plnmfoirig 

Estimate  a 

and 

Contracts 


PLUMBING 
ESTIMATES  AND 
CONTRACT  S 


By 
J.   J.    GOSGROVE 


Author    of 

"PRINCIPLES  AND  PRACTICE  OF  PLUMBING" 
"SEWAGE  PURIFICATION  AND  DISPOSAL" 

"HISTORY  OF  SANITATION" 

"WROUGHT  PIPE  DRAINAGE  SYSTEMS" 

"PLUMBING  PLANS  AND  SPECIFICATIONS" 

"DESIGN  OF  TURKISH  BATHS" 


Published  by 

Standard  Sanitary  H)&  Co. 

Pittsburgh,    U.    S.    A. 

COPYRIGHT   T910,    STANDARD   SANITARY   MFG.   CO.,    PITTSBURGH,    PA. 


! 


PREFACE 


N  PRESENTING  this  volume  to  the  public  the 
author  completes  a  set  of  books  devoted  ex- 
clusively to  plumbing  which  covers  the  calling 
from  practice  to  contracting.  The.  several 
books  included  in  the  set  are:  "Principles  and 
Practice  of  Plumbing, "  "Wrought  Pipe  Drain- 
age Systems,"  "Sewage  Purification  and  Disposal,"  Plumb- 
ing Plans  and  Specifications,"  "Plumbing  Estimates  and 
Contracts"  and  "History  of  Sanitation. 

These  books  are  not  disjointed  fragments  turned  out 
from  time  to  time,  without  reference  to  one  another,  but 
all  are  parts  of  one  comprehensive  whole,  the  result  of  a 
systematic  division  of  subjects  planned  before  any  of  the 
books  were  written.  The  object  was  to  present  to  one 
volume  the  principles  that  underlie  the  practice  of  plumbing, 
and  how  those  principles  are  applied  to  practice.  In  another, 
a  thorough  explanation  of  the  wrought  pipe  systems  of  drain- 
age together  with  an  exhaustive  description  of  how  to  handle 
and  manipulate  iron,  brass  and  nickel-plated  pipe.  A  third 
volume  was  to  explain  the  art  of  preparing  plumbing  plans 
and  writing  specifications,  and  a  fourth  the  principles  of  es- 
timating, contracting  and  conducting  a  business. 

„  Closely  related  to  plumbing  is  Sewage  Disposal  and 
General  Sanitation,  so  a  fifth  volume  was  devoted  to  the 
Purification  of  Sewage,  then,  that  the  plumber  might  have  a 
proper  and  profound  respect  for  his  calling,  a  history  of  sani- 
tation was  written  to  show  the  antiquity  of  the  craft,  its 
struggles,  its  failures  and  its  triumphs. 

These  books,  the  author  believes  cover  very  fully  the 
various  subjects,  and  contain  such  technical  data  as  has  long 
been  needed  by  those  interested  in  Plumbing  and  Sanitation. 


J.  J.  COSGROVE 


Philadelphia,  Pa., 
June  15,  1910. 


PUBLISHER'S  NOTE 


N  THE  publisher's  note,  printed  in  the  vari- 
ous books  which  preceded  this  one,  we  en- 
deavored to  make  clear  our  connection  with 
the  publication  of  technical  works  on  plumb- 
ing and  sanitation,  and  for  the  benefit  of  the 

readers  of  this  volume,  we  herewith  repeat  the  story  of  our 

relation  as  Publisher's  and  Manufacturer's. 

The  primary  object  of  our  organization  is,  as  uni- 
versally known,  to  manufacture  and  market  ^tattdafd" 
Plumbing  Fixtures,  Brass  Goods,  and  other  products  made 
in  our  factories.  In  the  development  of  an  organization  to 
accomplish  this  result,  there  has  been  established  an  Adver- 
tising and  Publishing  Department  of  no  small  proportions, 
and  "Plumbing  Estimates  and  Contracts"  is  a  part  of  the 
work  of  this  department. 

One  of  the  most  widely  known  productions  of  the 
Publishing  Department  is  the  monthly  magazine,  "Modern 
Sanitation,"  which  was  established  in  June,  1904.  From 
this  came  the  publication,  first  in  serial  form  and  later  as 
books,  of  "Principles  and  Practice  of  Plumbing,"  "Sewage 
Purification  and  Disposal,"  "History  of  Sanitation," 
"Wrought  Pipe  Drainage  Systems,"  "Plumbing  Plans  and 
Specifications"  and  "Plumbing  Estimates  and  Contracts." 
These  books  are  all  the  work  of  the  same  author,  Mr.  J.  J. 
Cosgrove,  who  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  authori- 
ties on  the  questions  upon  which  he  writes. 

Mr.  Cosgrove's  first  work  was  "Principles  and  Prac- 
tice of  Plumbing."  This  book  has  been  phenomenally  suc- 
cessful and  has  been  adopted  as  a  text  book  in  more  than  30 
of  the  largest  universities  and  colleges  in  the  United  States. 


Several  of  his  other  works  are  similarly  used  either  in  the 
form  of  text  books  or  as  books  which  students  in  plumbing 
and  architecture  are  advised  to  read. 

In  "Principles  and  Practice  of  Plumbing,"  Sewage 
Purification  and  Disposal,"  *  'History  of  Sanitation," 
"Wrought  Pipe  Drainage  Systems,"  "Plumbing  Plans  and 
Specifications"  and  "Plumbing  Estimates  and  Contracts," 
we  feel  that  the  literature  of  the  craft  has  been  enriched 
in  an  enduring  manner  and  that  we  have  fully  justified 
our  appearance  in  the  field  of  publishers  as  amply  as  we 
have  our  standing  as  manufacturers  of  a  world  wide  known 
and  used  product. 


Pittsburgh,  U.  S.  A. 
Publishing  Department. 


TABLE    OF    CONTENTS 


PART  I 

Estimates 1 

Taking  off  Quantities 1 

Originality  in  Estimating 45 

Estimating  from  Incomplete  Plans 85 

Making  up  the  Estimate 89 

Calculating  the  Cost 97 

PART  II 

Business  of  Contracts 117 

Office  Methods 163 

The  Execution  of  Contracts 169 

PART  III 

Business  Law....  175 


LIST    OF    TABLES 


TABLE  PAGE 

I.     Cost  of  Handling  Water  in  Trenches 15 

II.     Weights  and   Dimensions  of  Standard  Sewer 

Pipe 17 

III.  Weights  and  Dimensions  of  Double  Strength 

Sewer  Pipe 17 

IV.  Cement  and  Sand  Required  for  Earthenware 

Pipe 18 

V.     Sizes  and  Weights  of  Cast  Iron  Soil  Pipe 24 

VI.     Classification  of  Malleable  Iron  Fittings 26 

VII.    List  Price  on  Black  Malleable  Fittings 27 

VIII.    List  Price  on  Galvanized  Malleable  Fittings 29 

IX.     Dimensions  and  Weights  of  Standard  Wrought 

Pipe 30 

X.     Dimensions  and  Weights  of  Extra  Strong 

Wrought  Pipe 31 

XI.     Dimensions  and  Weights  of  Double  Extra 

Strong  Wrought  Pipe 33 

XII.    Seamless  Drawn    Brass    and    Copper  Tubes, 

Iron-Pipe  Sizes 34 

XIII.  Seamless    Drawn   Brass   and  Copper   Tubes, 

Extra  Heavy  Iron-Pipe  Sizes 35 

XIV.  Brass  Plumbing  Tubes,  Standard  Sizes 36 

XV.    Size  and  Weight  of  Lead  Pipes 41 

XVI.    Weights  and  Maximum  Sizes  of  Sheet  Lead...  44 

XVII.    Lengths  of  Long  Y,  TY  and  T-Fittings 52 

XVIII.    Size  and  Lengths  of  Long  Quarter  Bends 52 

XIX.     Size  of  Double  Y  Fittings,  with  Side  Outlets...  52 

XX.    Size  of  Double  Angle  Y's 52 

XXI.    Dimensions  of  Extension  Lead  Bends 54 

XXII.     Equivalent  Discounts  of  Much-Used  Series 101 

XXIII.  Amount  of  Wages  per  Day Ill 

XXIV.  Amount  of  Wages  per  Week 113 


PLUMBING 
ESTIMATES  AND 
CONTRACT  S 


PART   I 
ESTIMATES 


CHAPTER  I 

ESTIMATING   FROM    COMPLETE 
PLANS  AND   SPECIFICATIONS 


TAKING   OFF    QUANTITIES 

COPE  of  an  Estimate.— To  intelligently 
and  successfully  estimate  the  cost  of 
plumbing  work  requires  more  than 
a  mere  knowledge  of  the  construction 
of  buildings,  the  ability  to  read  plans 
and  the  skill  to  take  off  quantities  from  the 
drawings  submitted.  The  real  estimator's  work 
does  not  stop  when  he  has  made  up  a  list  of  materials 
which  the  plans  show  will  be  required  to  complete 
the  work,  but  he  supplements  his  efforts  by  deter- 
mining the  best  means  of  assembling  the  goods,  how  to 
ship  them,  and  where  and  in  what  condition  to  buy 
the  goods  at  the  least  cost  for  the  quality  specified. 
There  is  a  world  of  originality  and  ingenuity  required 
to  do  this  successfully,  and,  perhaps,  this  cannot  be 


'  Ir*  1  u  m  ft  i  n  g    Estimates     and     Contracts 

better  explained  than  by  giving  a  concrete  example  of 
business  enterprise  which,  if  in  the  newspaper  world, 
would  be  known  as  a  ' 'scoop"  or  "beat."  In  common 
with  a  number  of  others,  the  writer  at  one  time  esti- 
mated on  a  large  Government  building  in  which  there 
were  miles  upon  miles  of  extra-strong  galvanized 
wrought  pipe  to  be  used.  At  the  time  of  estimating, 
the  price  of  pipe  had  just  gone  up  and  the  market 
was  in  an  unsettled  condition,  threatening  every  minute 
to  go  higher.  As  prices  then  stood,  within  a  month  black 
iron  pipe  had  advanced  about  40  per  cent,  and  the 
list  on  galvanized-iron  pipe  had  gone  up  even  more. 
The  list  price  on  galvanized-iron  pipe  had  been  made 
just  double  that  of  plain  iron  pipe,  and  with  equal 
discounts  galvanized-iron  pipe  was  just  twice  as  costly 
as  plain  iron  pipe,  notwithstanding  that  the  cost  of 
galvanizing  was  but  a  fraction  of  the  cost  of  the  pipe. 
That  was  the  state  of  affairs  when  the  bids  were 
opened  and  the  work  awarded  to  the  lowest  bidder, 
who  was  some  thousands  of  dollars  below  the  field, 
and  whose  bid  was  less  than  the  estimated  cost  of 
the  work  as  calculated  by  the  other  competitors. 
Loss  was  freely  predicted  for  the  successful  contractor 
by  his  unsuccessful  rivals,  who  were  surprised  to 
see  him  complete  the  work  with  apparent  profit. 
Then  the  secret  of  his  success  leaked  out.  Instead 
of  figuring  the  cost  of  his  pipe  on  the  basis  of  the  manu- 
facturers' prices  he  bought  the  plain  iron  pipe  from 
the  supply  houses,  made  arrangements  with  a  large 
galvanizing  concern  to  galvanize  all  the  pipe  required 
for  the  contract  at  a  price  which  made  the  cost  of 
extra-strong  galvanized  iron  pipe  but  a  few  cents  more 
per  foot  than  the  cost  of  the  plain  iron  pipe.  It  is 

2 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

just  such  enterprise  and  originality  which  make 
a  success  of  the  plumbing  business.  To  all  appear- 
ances competitors  estimate  on  exactly  the  same 
materials,  taking  their  items  and  quantities  from 
identical  plans  and  specifications;  yet,  when  all  is 
said'  and  done,  there  is  always  some  chance  for  the 
resourceful  estimator  to  profit  by  his  superior  knowl- 
edge and  training,  to  fairly  and  honestly  beat  his 
competitors.  That  is  what  he  must  do  in  a  large 
percentage  of  his  endeavors  to  succeed,  and  to  suc- 
ceed is  what  he  is  in  business  for.  It  is  the  volume 
of  profitable  business  done  in  a  year  which  counts, 
and,  as  prices  to  all  of  equal  credit  are  practically  the 
same,  the  best  chance  for  the  success  of  a  contractor 
lies  in  his  ability  to  so  plan  his  work,  assemble  his 
materials  and  handle  his  contracts  generally,  that 
his  net  cost  will  be  less  than  that  of  other  contractors. 
The  foregoing  story  is  told  to  emphasize  the  point 
that  to  be  a  successful  estimator  and  contractor  re- 
quires more  than  the  clerical  ability  to  take  off  quan- 
tities from  a  plan.  To  be  really  successful  the  es- 
timator must  possess  a  complete  knowledge  of  ma- 
terials, be  perfectly  familiar  with  prices,  know  how 
to  lay  out  work  in  the  most  economical  yet,  at  the 
same  time,  sanitary  way;  he  must  know  his  locality 
and  be  perfectly  familiar  with  the  best  and  cheapest 
means  of  shipping;  he  must  be  accurate,  resourceful 
and  capable  of  judging  what  constitutes  a  fair  day's 
work.  In  addition  he  should  be  industrious,  have 
character,  tact,  courage,  confidence  in  himself  and 
his  work,  perseverance,  good  manners  and  be  well 
dressed.  Last,  but  most  important  of  all,  he  must  be 
honest.  Dishonest  methods  and  principles  might 

3 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

gain  a  temporary  advantage,  but  a  successful  career 
as  an  estimator  and  contractor  can  be  founded  only 
on  the  rock  of  honesty. 

It  is  not  often  that  the  opportunity  for  a  "scoop," 
like  that  related  of  the  galvanized-iron  pipe,  presents 
itself  to  the  estimator,  but  a  plumbing  installation  is 
never  estimated  on  where  there  is  not  an  opportunity 
for  the  display  of  some  originality  in  design  or  exe- 
cution. Indeed,  it  generally  is  the  estimator  who  is 
the  most  successful  in  this  respect  that  reaps  the 
reward  of  his  efforts,  and  it  will  be  the  object  of  the 
succeeding  paragraphs  to  point  out  some  of  the  ad- 
vanced principles  of  estimating,  so  that  the  begin- 
ners will  know  how  to  approach  the  task  and  be  on 
a  more  equal  footing  with  his  more  experienced 
competitors. 

Order  of  Estimating. — It  stands  to  reason  that 
some  system  or  order  must  be  observed  in  taking  off 
quantities,  if  confusion  is  to  be  avoided  and  every 
item  entering  into  the  makeup  of  the  work  included. 
For  instance,  if  the  plan  of  a  floor  be  studied  and  an 
effort  made  to  take  off  at  one  and  the  same  time  the 
various  items  of  fixtures,  water  supply  pipes,  soil 
pipes,  lead  roughing  and  brass  work  on  that  floor, 
confusion  will  ensue  and  some  of  the  items  will  be 
overlooked.  A  simple  but  effective  plan  to  follow 
is  to  estimate  separately  the  drainage  system,  the 
water  supply  system,  fixtures,  labor  and  general  con- 
ditions. By  such  a  course  of  procedure  each  subdi- 
vision of  the  work  can  be  followed  out  from  begin- 
ning to  end  and  not  an  item  overlooked. 

4 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

Reading  of  Specifications. — The  careful  estimator 
will  study  out  not  only  the  plumbing  specifications 
but  will  likewise  read  through  the  general  conditions 
of  the  general  specifications  to  see  if  there  is  anything 
there  which  affects  the  plumbing  work.  He  will  look 
in  the  mason's  specifications,  also,  to  see  if  the  dig- 
ging of  trenches  and  other  excavating  called  for  in 
his  specifications  is  likewise  specified  to  be  done  by 
the  mason.  In  many  specifications  this  conflict- 
ing condition  is  required  and  the  wide-awake  esti- 
mator who  discovers  it  can  take  advantage  of  the 
conflicting  requirement  and  estimate  accordingly. 
To  do  so,  however,  he  must  first  ascertain  from  the 
architect  which  of  the  contractors,  the  mason  or  the 
plumber,  will  be  required  to  do  the  work,  for  the 
mason  contractor  might  have  had  a  decision  from  the 
architect  to  the  effect  that  the  plumbing  contractor 
will  do  his  own  excavating,  in  which  case  omitting 
that  item  from  the  estimate  would  entail  loss  on  the 
plumbing  contractor.  Even  if  the  architect  should 
decide  that  all  excavating  work  for  the  plumber  shall 
be  done  by  the  mason,  care  must  be  exercised  by  the 
plumbing  estimator.  If  the  plumbing  specifications 
are  corrected  by  the  architect  upon  making  that 
decision,  all  is  well;  but  if  no  indication  or  correction 
is  made  in  the  specifications,  to  protect  his  own  in- 
terests the  plumbing  contractor  will  either  have  to 
estimate  on  doing  the  excavating  and  trust  to  luck 
to  get  out  of  it,  or  he  can  omit  the  item  from  his 
estimate,  and,  in  submitting  his  bid,  state  explicitly 
that  it  does  not  include  excavating,  calling  attention 
at  the  same  time  to  the  provision  in  the  mason's 
specifications. 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

In  like  manner  the  estimator  should  examine  the 
carpenter's  specifications  to  see  if  that  contractor  is  to 
do  his  cutting  of  walls,  floors  and  beams;  and  the 
steamfitter's  specifications  to  sdfe  if  there  is  a  conflict- 
ing statement  regarding  the  water-heating  apparatus 
or  other  parts  of  the  plumbing  work.  In  the  case  of 
cutting  of  walls,  floors  and  beams,  this  is  assumed  to 
be  the  plumber's  work,  if  nothing  is  said  to  the  con- 
trary, for  the  plumbing  work  cannot  be  installed 
without  the  necessary  cutting  and  patching.  Plumb- 
ers usually  make  such  a  botch  of  the  cutting  and  re- 
pairing work,  however,  that  many  architects  prefer 
to  have  it  done  by  the  carpenters.  In  such  cases, 
the  work  is  specified  to  be  done  by  the  carpenters, 
and,  as  it  is  only  implied  in  the  plumbing  specifica- 
tions, but  not  stated,  the  requirement  in  the  car- 
penter's specifications  makes  it  part  of  his  contract. 
That  being  so  no  mention  of  the  cutting  and  patch- 
ing need  be  made  in  the  plumber's  tender,  while  the 
advantage  he  gains  by  reading  the  carpenter's  speci- 
fications and  learning  that  work  he  would  otherwise 
figure  on  is  to  be  done  by  another,  gives  him  a  slight 
advantage  over  his  competitors,  and  the  sum  of  all 
the  slight  advantages  should  secure  him  the  contract. 

Accuracy  of  Estimates. — Accuracy  is  of  prime 
importance  in  the  making  of  an  estimate,  for  it  would 
profit  a  man  nothing  to  be  awarded  all  the  work  he 
figures  on,  only  to  find  that  he  has  lost  money  on 
every  contract.  Conversely,  as  an  estimator's  time 
is  of  value,  it  is  a  waste  of  money  to  estimate  daily 
on  work  only  to  lose  on  account  of  inaccuracies  either 
in  the  taking  off  of  items  or  in  calculating  the  cost 

6 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

of  materials.  Where  plans  and  specifications  are 
full  and  complete,  and  nothing  is  ambiguous  or  left 
to  conjecture,  the  net  cost  for  doing  the  work  should 
vary  but  very  little*  among  the  different  contractors 
estimating  on  an  operation.  If  they  are  all  equally 
careful  in  taking  off  quantities  their  several  items 
ought  to  tally  so  far  as  amounts  are  concerned,  and 
whatever  difference  there  would  be  in  the  cost  of  the 
various  items  would  arise  from  the  different  prices 
paid  for  the  goods,  according  as  one  is  a  good  or  bad 
buyer.  The  only  chance  for  difference  of  opinion 
as  to  cost  will  lie  in  the  enterprise  and  originality  or 
lack  of  enterprise  or  originality  of  the  several  estimat- 
ors, and  in  the  computation  of  the  cost  of  labor. 
Here  again  the  difference  will  rise  according  to  the 
ability  of  the  contractor  to  select  good  men  and  use 
them  advantageously. 

On  work  which  is  estimated  upon,  but  lost,  no 
record  can  be  kept  to  show  how  accurate  was  the  list 
of  materials  and  the  prices  allowed.  On  work  con- 
tracted for,  however,  a  careful  record  should  be  kept, 
showing  the  actual  cost  and  the  estimated  cost  of  the 
various  items.  This  information  is  invaluable  to  a 
careful  business  man.  Profit,  but  only  a  fair  profit, 
should  be  made  on  every  item  entering  into  a  plumb- 
ing contract,  and  if  a  loss  is  experienced  instead  of  a 
profit  the  contractor  wants  to  know  of  the  loss  and 
the  cause,  so  he  can  adopt  measures  to  prevent  a 
repetition.  For  instance,  if  the  record  shows  that  the 
quantity  of  soil  pipe  estimated  on  was  correct  but  the 
pipe  cost  more  than  allowed  for,  that  would  indicate 
that  something  was  wrong,  with  his  prices.  Investi- 
gation might  show  that  the  latest  quotation,  or  dis- 

7 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

count,  had  not  been  entered  in  the  cost  book,  and  that 
consequently  he  was  selling  soil  pipe  at  an  old  price 
and  buying  it  at  a  later  and  higher  one.  Such  infor- 
mation would  not  be  available  if  it  were  not  for  keep- 
ing record  of  all  items  and  checking  them  up.  At  all 
events,  the  cause  of  the  loss  would  be  ascertained, 
and  the  cause  eliminated.  If,  instead  of  the  materials, 
the  items  of  labor  should  show  a  loss  it  should  lead 
to  an  investigation  of  the  cause  and  a  revision  of  the 
manner  of  estimating  the  cost  of  labor.  If  an  in- 
spection of  the  personnel  of  his  workmen  shows  that 
some  are  below  the  average  in  skill  or  speed,  the  reme- 
dy obviously  would  be  to  replace  them  with  good 
workmen  who  could  do  an  average  day's  labor.  If, 
however,  the  workmen  are  up  to  the  average  and  are 
doing  a  fair  day's  work  it  would  be  necessary  when 
estimating  on  future  work  to  allow  less  for  an  actual 
day's  labor. 

No  less  necessary  is  it  to  check  up  and  analyze 
the  cause  of  excess  profit  on  the  various  items.  Each 
item  of  actual  cost  ought  to  correspond  approximately 
to  the  estimated  cost,  and  when  there  is  a  large 
balance  in  favor  of  the  contractor,  if  he  be  a  careful 
business  man,  he  will  want  to  know  the  reason  why. 
If  in  many  of  his  items  the  actual  cost  runs  much 
below  the  estimated  cost  he  may  assume  that  having 
the  contract  awarded  to  him  was  more  the  result  of 
an  accident  than  due  to  careful  business  methods 
and  accurate  estimating.  An  estimator  should  feel 
as  deeply  humiliated  to  have  his  estimates  constantly 
run  above  the  actual  cost  as  to  have  them  run  below, 
for  in  either  case  the  discrepancy  is  due  to  careless- 
ness, or  to  ignorance  of  conditions  with  which  he 

8 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

should  be  familiar  The  careful  estimator  will  try 
to  ascertain  the  exact  amount  the  labor  and  material 
will  cost  him,  then,  knowing  what  percentage  he 
wishes  to  make  on  that  work,  he  can  easily  add  the 
profit.  If,  after  carefully  estimating  the  work,  he  is 
underbid  and  his  competitor  makes  a  profit  on  the 
contract  he  knows  something  is  wrong  with  his 
prices.  He  is  paying  too  much  for  material;  his  labor 
is  running  too  high;  he  has  not  laid  out  the  work  in 
the  building  in  the  most  economical  way  to  economize 
labor  and  material,  or  some  other  condition  is  against 
him  and  that  condition  must  be  discovered  and  over- 
come before  he  can  succeed. 

Scaling  Drawings. — Plans  for  a  building  can- 
not conveniently  be  made  of  the  full  size  of  the  build- 
ing, so  they  are  made  much  smaller  but  drawn  to 
scale,  so  that  the  proportions  on  the  drawings  all  bear 
the  same  relation  to  one  another  that  the  same  por- 
tions will  on  the  completed  building.  The  general 
drawings  consisting  of  floor  plans  and  elevations  are 
generally  drawn  to  a  scale  of  J-inch  to  1  foot,  and  the 
details  made  to  a  scale  of  f-inch  to  1  foot.  Some- 
times the  general  plans  are  drawn  to  the  smaller  scale 
of  J-inch  to  the  foot.  By  J-inch  to  the  foot  is  meant 
that  J-inch  in  lerigth  on  the  plan  will  equal  1  foot  on 
the  building,  and  that,  consequently,  a  pipe  3  inches 
long  on  the  plans,  when  drawn  to  a  scale  of  J-inch 
per  foot,  will  be  12  feet  long  in  the  building.  If  on 
the  other  hand  the  scale  were  J-inch  to  the  foot  3 
inches  on  the  drawing  would  be  equal  to  24  feet  in  the 
building.  The  scale  to  which  drawings  are  made 
is  always  marked  on  the  plans,  and  having  this  scale 

9 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 


furnished,  an  estimator  possesses  the  key  for  deter- 
mining the  amount  of  pipe  in  the  building. 

The  process  of  measuring  materials  on  plans  is 
known  as  the  process  of  ' 'scaling."  The  manner  of 
scaling  pipe  by  means  of  a  2-foot  rule  is  shown  at 
(a)  in  Fig.  1. 


[*rv\' 

\l_v\^\} 

±\\\^\'&\\ 

TOTO^P' 

m'^ra 

^e^m 

ssss 

I1  i 

f  i 

i6  1  i8  1 

E]  i9  i  i*  i 

r  i  ie  / 

Is  ,  I1  1 

LLLL/    / 

Fig1.  1 

In  the  example,  assume  that  the  scale  is  J-inch  to 
the  foot,  and  it  is  desired  to  know  the  length  of  pipe 
shown  in  the  illustration.  By  measuring,  it  will  be 
found  that  the  length  of  the  pipe  over  all  is  just  6J 
inches.  As  each  ^-inch  on  the  plan  equals  1  foot  of 
pipe,  and  there  are  6Jx4  =  26  quarters,  or  6J  inches, 
of  pipe  on  the  plan,  there  must  be  26  feet  of  pipe 
required  for  this  installation. 

As  was  just  shown,  an  ordinary  2-foot  rule  can  be 
used  for  scaling  plans,  but  when  a  great  amount  of 
scaling  is  to  be  done,  much  better  time  can  be  made, 
without  the  like  liability  to  error,  by  using  a  regular 

10 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

~—  "••>. 

scaling  rule.  One  type  of  a  scaling  rule  is  shown  at 
(6)  in  Fig.  1  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  -|-mch 
marks  are  numbered  consecutively,  so  that  by  reading 
the  number  opposite  any  mark  will  give  in  feet  the 
length  of  pipe  scaled.  For  example,  opposite  the 
end  of  the  pipe  is  the  quarter  mark,  numbered  26, 
which  indicates  that  the  section  of  the  pipe  measured 
is  26  feet  long. 

A  very  convenient  rule  for  scaling  is  made  tri- 
angular in  shape  and  has  A,  J,  -f&,  J,  f,  i,  f ,  1,  1J,  2 
and  3  inch  scales  marked  on  its  various  sides,  which 
enable  it  to  be  conveniently  used  when  taking  off 
quantities  from  plans  having  any  of  the  foregoing 
scales  per  foot. 

Plumbing  details  are  usually  drawn  to  a  different 
scale  than  the  plans  and  elevations.  In  the  details 
the  intention  is  to  show  more  clearly  than  can  be  indi- 
cated on  the  plans  just  how  certain  portions  of  the 
work  are  to  be  done.  In  order  that  the  drawings 
will  be  large  enough  to  show  all  necessary  detail,  they 
are  generally  made  to  scales  of  from  J  inch  per  foot 
to  1  inch  per  foot  or  even  larger  if  occasion  requires. 

Permits. — In  almost  every  city  a  fee  is  exacted 
for  opening  a  street,  tapping  a  water  main  and  con- 
necting to  the  street  sewer,  consequently,  these  items 
of  expense  must  be  taken  into  account  when  making 
up  an  estimate.  The  cost  of  a  tap  is  the  same  in  all 
cases  where  a  simple  tap  of  the  regulation  size  is  used ; 
but  when  there  is  a  deviation  from  the  standard  a 
higher  price  is  charged,  and  therein  is  where  the  danger 
lies  of  making  a  mistake.  For  instance,  if  the  fee  for 
a  f-inch  tap  be  five  dollars,  and  a  multiple  connection, 

11 


Plumbing    Estimates    and    Contracts 

requiring  six  taps,  is  called  for  in  the  specifications, 
the  total  cost  for  taps  would  be  five  multiplied  by 
six  =  thirty  dollars;  and  the  estimator  who  would 
figure  on  a  basis  of  the  standard  price  would  lose 
twenty-five  dollars,  plus  the  profit,  on  that  one  item. 
Likewise,  the  cost  would  be  greater  than  the  regula- 
tion price  if  the  street  main  had  to  be  broken  to  insert 
a  specified  fitting.  In  such  case  the  estimator  should 
get  from  the  water  company  an  estimate  for  this  part 
of  the  work. 

The  cost  of  connecting  to  the  sewer  is  generally 
the  same,  regardless  of  the  size  of  pipe  or  the  quantity 
of  sewage  it  will  convey,  so  there  is  little  danger  of 
going  astray  in  the  cost  price  of  this  item.  The  cost 
of  a  permit  for  opening  the  street,  on  the  other  hand, 
is  generally  based  on  the  size  of  the  opening,  and  is 
intended  to  defray  the  expense  of  putting  the  pave- 
ment in  order  after  the  trench  is  refilled.  On  streets 
which  are  not  paved  or  macadamized  the  cost  for  a 
permit  is  nominal,  while  on  paved  streets  they  run 
quite  high.  It  is  of  importance  in  such  cases  to  keep 
the  size  of  the  opening  as  small  as  possible,  without 
restricting  it  to  such  an  extent  as  to  interfere  with  the 
economical  working  of  the  men;  and  both  water  and 
house  sewer  should  be  run  in  the  same  trench  to  save 
not  only  the  cost  of  two  opening  permits  but, 
likewise,  the  extra  cost  of  digging.  It  should  be  re- 
membered by  the  estimator  that  the  deeper  the 
sewer  the  wider  will  have  to  be  the  trench,  conse- 
quently the  more  costly  the  paving  permit.  The 
estimator,  of  course,  will  determine  the  depth  of  the 
main  sewer  in  the  street,  as  without  this  knowledge  he 
cannot  intelligently  estimate  the  cost  of  excavating. 

12 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

The  location  of  branch  Y's,  the  depth  of  sewers 
in  the  streets,  character  of  soil  in  any  locality,  or  any 
other  information  relating  to  the  sewers  can  be  had 
upon  application  to  the  city  engineer  in  small  cities, 
or  to  the  Department  of  Sewers  in  large  cities. 

Digging  and  Refilling  Trenches. — The  estimator 
will  first  ascertain  from  a  comparison  of  specifica- 
tions whether  the  digging  of  pipe  trenches  is  to  be 
part  of  the  plumbing  contract.  In  case  it  is,  he  must 
next  determine  the  length,  depth  and  materials 
through  which  the  trench  must  be  cut.  The  length 
and  depth  will  give  him  the  breadth,  which  in  turn 
will  give  the  cubical  contents  of  the  earth  to  be  re- 
moved. The  material  to  be  cut  through  is  import- 
ant, because  the  cost  per  cubic  yard  of  excavating 
varies  with  the  different  materials.  If  a  trench  is 
carried  to  a  depth  of  over  six  feet  the  earth  must  be 
handled  twice  and  a  scaffold  must  be  built  in  the 
trench  to  hold  the  earth  thrown  up  while  at  the  same 
time  affording  space  for  the  workmen  to  stand.  Fur- 
ther, the  trench  will  have  to  be  made  wider  to  afford 
room  for  the  men.  In  loose  or  sandy  soil,  wet  clay, 
or  any  kind  of  earth  which  is  liable  to  cave,  sheet 
piling  will  be  necessary  to  protect  the  trench  from 
caving  in,  and  to  safeguard  the  workmen.  The 
cost  of  sheet  piling  can  be  ascertained  by  figur- 
ing the  length  of  trench  which  will  require  pro- 
tection at  one  time  then  finding  the  number  of  two- 
inch  planks  of  the  required  length  that  will  cover  the 
surface  on  both  sides  and  adding  four  beams  the 
length  of  the  trench.  Having  the  amount  of  lumber 
required  the  cost  can  be  easily  ascertained.  It  is 

13 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

assumed  that  the  contractor  has  suitable  adjustable 
trench  braces  for  holding  the  piling  in  place.  An 
allowance  of  time  must,  of  course,  be  made  to  cover 
the  labor  of  setting  the  sheet  piling  in  place  and  re- 
moving it  after  the  trench  is  partly  filled.  "When  the 
trench  is  a  long  one  it  may  be  opened  in  sections  and 
the  sheet  piling  used  over  and  over  again.  It  is  a 
question  which  must  be  decided  according  to  the 
circumstances  of  the  case  whether  the  lumber  for 
sheet  piling  is  a  legitimate  item  of  cost  or  should  be 
supplied  like  tools  and  apparatus.  Usually  the  sheet 
piling  can  be  removed  and  used  over  again.  When 
such  is  the  case  and  the  contractor  has  plenty  of  use 
for  the  lumber  it  should  be  considered  as  tools  or 
machinery  and  as  belonging  to  his  plant.  The  only 
loss  is  the  wear  and  tear  on  the  lumber  which  would 
be  allowed  for  in  his  general  expenses.  If,  however, 
the  work  is  to  be  done  at  a  distance  from  home  where 
the  material  would  not  repay  the  cost  of  transporta- 
tion to  the  shop,  should  the  use  of  sheet  piling  be  an 
exceptional  requirement,  made  necessary  by  the  par- 
ticular conditions  of  that  one  installation,  and  the 
lumber  be  of  no  further  use  to  the  contractor  in  his 
business;  or  if  once  the  sheet-piling  is  in  place  it  cannot 
be  economically  removed  then  the  lumber  should  be 
entered  on  the  estimating  blank  as  a  legitimate  item 
of  cost. 

The  soils  differ  so  in  different  localities  that  the 
cost  of  digging  trenches  in  one  locality  cannot  be 
accepted  as  a  base  for  estimating  the  cost  of  trenching 
through  a  different  kind  of  soil  in  another  locality. 
The  contractor  must  familiarize  himself  with  the  sub- 
strata in  his  city  and  post  himself  as  to  the  cost  per 

14 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 


lineal  foot  for  digging  trenches  of  various  depths  in 
the  different  soils.  The  presence  of  water  in  soil 
will  complicate  matters  to  such  an  extent  that  less 
earth  can  be  thrown  out  of  a  trench  per  day  by  a  man, 
and,  in  addition,  pumps  must  be  employed  for  keep- 
ing the  trench  dry.  The  cost  of  pumping  will  depend 
greatly  on  the  amount  of  ground-water  seeping  into 
the  trench.  If  but  slight,  a  couple  of  hours  per  day 
for  one  man  might  suffice,  while  with  an  extremely 
wet  ditch  a  man  may  be  required  steadily  at  the  pump. 
In  very  long  trenches,  such  as  street  sewer  work, 
power  pumps  may  be  required,  All  of  these  various 
phases  of  excavating  must  be  considered  in  con- 
nection with  each  operation,  and  the  cost  carefully 
worked  out  from  the  data  at  hand.  However,  until 
such  data  is  available,  the  information  contained  in 
Table  I  will  serve  as  a  guide,  and  at  all  times  as  a 
check  on  the  cost  of  handling  water  in  trenches. 
Table  I  was  compiled  by  Mr.  Eliot  C.  Clarke,  C.  E.  in 
1885  for  use  during  surveys  made  for  the  Massa- 
chusetts Drainage  Commission. 

TABLE   I 

COST  OF  HANDLING  WATER  PER  100  LINEAR  FEET  OF  TRENCH 


5  feet 
Deep 

10  feet 
Deep 

15  feet 
Deep 

20  feet 
Deep 

25  feet 
Deep 

SLIGHTLY  WET—  Hand-pump..  . 

$6.00 

$7.00 

$9.50 

$12.00 

$18.00 

QUITE  WET  —  One  steam  -pump; 

one  line  8-inch  pipe  at  20c.   per 

foot;  wells  every  500  feet;  moving 

engine,  etc.,  every  500  feet;  rent 

of  pump  and  engine,  $3  per  day, 

one  engineer,  $2.50  per  day,  fuel. 

71.50 

73.50 

76.50 

103.45 

127.45 

VERY  WET—  Two   steam    pumps 
12-inch  pipe  at  36c.  per  foot,  wells 

every  250  feet,  two  engines,  three 

engineers  fuel 

117.00 

119.00 

126.00 

164.00 

226.00 

15 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

The  removal  of  rock,  particularly  when  the  plumb- 
ing contractor  is  inexperienced  in  blasting,  had  better 
be  sublet  to  a  quarryman.  This  will  prove  less  ex- 
pensive to  the  plumber  in  the  long  run,  besides  re- 
lieving him  of  the  responsibility.  Until  such  time 
as  the  beginner  can  learn  the  exact  cost  of  rock  exca- 
vation for  trenches  in  his  locality,  he  can  figure  that 
it  will  not  be  less  than  $3.50  per  cubic  yard,  and  not 
over  $5.50  per  yard,  provided  the  quantity  to  be  re- 
moved is  over  ten  cubic  yards. 

Estimating  Cost  of  Earthenware  Sewer. — To 

find  the  cost  of  earthenware  sewers,  scale  the  plans 
to  find  the  number  of  lineal  feet  of  pipe  that  will  be 
required.  To  this  amount  add  a  certain  percentage 
to  allow  for  defective  pipes  and  lengths  which  are 
broken  in  transit.  Ordinarily,  when  the  pipes  have 
been  carefully  packed  and  are  intelligently  handled 
in  getting  them  from  the  car  to  the  trench  where  they 
are  to  be  used,  there  is  but  little  broken  pipe.  In 
proportion,  however,  as  the  pipe  has  been  roughly 
handled,  and  the  inspector  strict,  the  allowance  for 
breakage  must  be  increased.  As  an  average  an  al- 
lowance for  breakage  of  6  per  cent,  will  be  found  suffi- 
cient for  this  purpose.  To  the  cost  of  the  pipe  and 
the  allowance  for  breakage  must  be  added  the  cost  of 
freight  and  dray  age  to  the  premises.  The  cost  of 
freight  and  drayage  can  be  figured  from  the  weights 
of  sewer  pipes  given  in  Tables  II  and  III.  Next  will 
come  the  cost  of  cement ;  oakum  must  also  be  included. 
In  Table  IV  can  be  found  the  length  of  sewer  pipe 
of  different  sizes  and  the  number  of  feet  that  can  be 
laid  with  one  barrel  of  Portland  cement  and  one  bar- 

16 


Plumbing     Estimates    and     Contracts 


TABLE   II 
WEIGHTS  AND  DIMENSIONS  OF  STANDARD  SEWER  PIPE 


1 

1 

1 

| 

0 

I 

w  a] 

n* 

^  rt 

"8 

li 

a£ 
fl 

1.9 

fl 

o>  o 

p 

y 
c 

8 

m 

r 

£* 

ija 
1 

I 

li 

1 

:      •< 

2" 

u 

i 

1 

6 

6.000 

3.14 

3" 

if 

i 

1 

8 

3,500 

7.07 

4" 

i* 

i 

i 

9 

2,500 

12.57 

5" 

U 

i 

1 

13 

2,000 

19.63 

6" 

2 

1 

1 

16 

1,600 

28.27 

8" 

2i 

13-16 

i 

23 

1,000 

50.27 

9" 

24 

1 

1 

28 

800 

63.72 

10" 

24 

15-16 

1 

34 

700 

78.54 

12" 

3 

15-16 

£ 

38 

550 

113.09 

15" 

3 

1J 

I 

63 

420 

176.71 

18" 

3 

H 

^ 

84 

380 

254.46 

20" 

3 

H 

| 

99      ' 

320 

314.16 

24" 

3 

14 

1 

129 

200 

452.39 

27" 

4 

H 

i 

146 

120 

572.55 

30" 

5 

U 

1 

161 

100 

706.85 

TABLE   III 

WEIGHTS  AND  DIMENSIONS  OF  DOUBLE  STRENGTH 
SEWER  PIPE 


e 

1 

8 

1 

I 

1 

a 

Q,  M 

JO 

S 

U 

s^ 

^8      i      & 

i 

CM 

M  y 

rt^i 

0 

vl 

.y>5 

p2^H 

•BQ 

c 

j 

CQ 

f-9 

H^ 

gc 

1 

b 

1 

Q 

a 

1 

12" 
15" 

3 
3 

1 

H 

* 

46 
65 

540 
385 

113.09 
176.71 

18" 

3 

li 

^ 

95 

260 

254.46 

20" 

3 

1  11-16 

i              123 

200 

314.16 

24" 

3 

2 

I 

175 

140 

452.39 

27" 

4 

2J 

| 

236 

110 

572.55 

30" 

5 

21 

I 

250 

100 

706.85 

17 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 


rel  of  sand.  To  find  the  amount  of  oakum  required 
allow  one  ounce  of  oakum  at  each  joint  for  each  inch 
in  diameter  of  the  pipe. 

Having  the  quantities  of  materials  required  all 
that  remains  is  to  find  the  cost  of  the  labor.  Some 
contractors  have  handy  laborers  who,  at  a  cost  of 
two  dollars  per  day,  can  lay  tile  pipe  as  well  as  a 
mason.  Such  a  saving  will  go  a  long  way,  where 
much  earthenware  pipe  is  to  be  laid,  toward  keeping 
the  cost  of  an  estimate  down  to  the  winning  figure. 

TABLE   IV 

CEMENT  AND  SAND  REQUIRED  FOR  EARTHENWARE  PIPE 


4 

5 

6 

800 
1 

8 

10 

12 
300 
1 

15 
190 
1 

18 
130 
1 

20 
100 
1 

1 

24 
70 

Length  of  pipe  in  feet  

1.200 

1,000 

675 
1 

450 
1 

Barrels  of  cement  

1 

1 

1 

Barrels  of  sand. 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

The  amount  of  pipe  a  man  can  lay  per  day  is  the  one 
unknown  quantity  of  the  cost  of  laying  the  earthen- 
ware pipe.  The  amount,  of  course,  will  depend  on  the 
size  of  the  pipe,  and  will  likewise  be  affected  by  the 
manner  it  is  to  be  laid.  If  the  pipe  must  have  a  firm 
bearing  along  each  length  on  undisturbed  earth,  with 
cavities  scooped  out  where  the  hubs  come,  the  cost 
of  getting  the  pipe  to  grade  will  be  greater  than  if 
the  same  pipes  are  laid  on  top  of  boards  which  are 
laid  with  the  proper  fall.  All  these  things  must  be 
taken  into  account  when  estimating  the  amount  of 
pipe  which  can  be  laid.  For  instance,  a  good  man 
can  lay  100  feet  of  4  or  5-inch  earthenware  pipe  if  the 
drain  is  run  on  boards,  bedded  on  earth  at  the  bottom 
of  the  trench,  while  50  feet  would  be  a  good  day's  work 

18 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 


when  each  length  of  pipe  must  be  separately  bedded 
along  its  entire  length  on  undisturbed  earth. 

Estimating  Cost  of  Cast-Iron  Soil  Pipe. — In 

scaling  the  cast-iron  soil  pipe  shown  on  plans,  no  deduc- 
tion is  made  for  fittings  unless  the  fittings  are  massed 
together  in  such  a  bunch  that  little  or  no  pipe  will  be 
used,  in  which  case  the  careful  estimator  will  determine 
just  how  much  pipe  he  will  need  after  deducting  the 
fittings.  The  reason  for  counting  the  fittings  as  so 
much  pipe  is  to  compensate  for  the  pipe  which  is  cut 
to  waste,  proves  defective  or  is  broken  in  cutting  or 
calking.  If  the  estimator  scaled  his  pipe  down  to 
the  utmost  limit  he  would  be  sure  to  run  short  on  the 
installation. 


Fig.  2 

In  order  to  illustrate  the  manner  of  taking  off 
quantities  from  a  cast-iron  pipe  drainage  system  the 
drawing,  Fig.  2,  is  incorporated.  In  determining  the 
amount  of  pipe  used  in  the  horizontal  piping  shown 

19 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

in  the  plan  a  rule  would  be  laid  on  the  main  run,  from 
the  end  of  the  house  drain  where  it  will  join  the  house 
sewer  outside  the  building,  and  the  distance  measured 
to  the  end  of  the  clean-out  screw  at  the  opposite  end. 
This  drawing  has  been  reduced  so  that  it  is  not  now 
drawn  to  scale,  although  the  plan  was  originally. 
But  assuming  that  the  extreme  length  on  the  original 
plan  was  10  inches,  then,  as  the  plan  was  drawn  to  a 
scale  of  J-inch  to  the  foot,  there  would  be  40  feet  of 
pipe  in  this  run. 

Having  the  main  drain,  the  branches  may  be 
scaled  in  the  same  way  and  the  various  lengths  of  the 
several  sizes  of  pipe  jotted  down.  Having  the  amount 
of  pipe  that  will  be  required  the  next  step  is  to  count 
and  classify  the  fittings.  The  first  fitting  on  the  line 
is  a  4  x  4  Y  branch.  This  is  put  down  as  a  4-inch  Y 
The  next  fitting  is  a  4-inch  running  trap  with  two  vent 
hubs;  next  comes  a  4-inch  T  branch,  then  a  4x3 
branch,  which  is  listed  as  a  4-inch  Y. 

The  reason  that  the  4  x  4  Y,  the  4  x  3  Y,  also  the 
4  x  2  Y,  are  all  classed  as  4-inch  Y  fittings  is  because 
the  list  price  and  discount  on  branch  fittings  are  the 
same  for  straight  fittings  as  for  those  with  reducing 
branches,  and,  as  the  object  at  this  time  is  only  to 
ascertain  the  cost,  not  to  order  the  fittings  for  the 
work,  the  various  branch  fittings  are  jotted  down  as 
though  of  uniform  size  at  all  the  outlets. 

Assuming  that  the  pipe  as  scaled  shows  85  feet 
of  4-inch  pipe,  22  feet  of  3-inch  pipe  and  7  feet  of 
2-inch  pipe ;  and  that  the  pipe  is  to  be  of  extra  heavy 
quality,  tar  coated  both  inside  and  outside,  then  the 
list  of  items  so  far  as  we  have  gone  would  contain  the 
following  materials  and  quantities: 

20 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 


LIST  OF  MATERIALS 


Quantity 


Material 


85  feet  . 

22  feet  . 

7  feet, 


1  ____ 
1  ____ 
4.  . 


1 

2..  .  . 
4.  .  .  . 

1 

1 

2.  . 


4-inch  extra  heavy  tar-coated  soil  pipe 

3-inch  extra  heavy  tar-coated  soil  pipe 

2-inch  extra  heavy  tar-coated  soil  pipe 

4-inch  double  Y's 

4-inch  Y's 

4-inch  running  trap,  two  top  openings 

4-inch  T 

4-inch  long-turn  £  bends 

4-inch  return  bend 

4-inch  |  bends 

4-inch  iron  body  screw  cleanouts 

3-inch  Y 

3-inch  long-turn  J  bend 

2-inch  long-turn  £  bends 


It  will  be  noticed  that  only  the  sizes  and  lengths 
of  pipes  and  the  sizes  and  kinds  of  fittings  can  be  had 
from  the  plans  and  the  quality,  such  as  extra  heavy 
tar  coated,  and  the  description  of  the  cleanout  screws 
must  be  obtained  from  the  specifications. 

Having  the  length  of  pipe  and  the  number  of  fit- 
tings the  next  requirement  is  to  find  the  amount  of 
lead  and  oakum  that  will  be  required.  To  learn  this 
the  number  of  joints  of  different  size  must  be  counted. 
The  plan  shows  that  there  are  thirty-one  4-inch  joints, 
five  3-inch  joints  and  five  2-inch  joints,  and  the 
lead  and  oakum  required  for  these  joints  can  be  found 
by  means  of  the  following  rules: 

RULE  I. — To  find  the  quantity  of  lead  required 
to  calk  a  joint  in  iron  pipe,  allow  one  pound  of  lead 
for  each  inch  in  diameter  of  the  pipe. 

EXAMPLE. — What  weight  of  lead  will  be  required 
to  calk  twenty  6-inch  pipe  joints? 

SOLUTION — According  to  the  rule,  6  pounds  of 
lead  will  be  required  for  one  6-inch  pipe  joint,  conse- 

21 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

quently,  20  joints  will  require  20x6=120  pounds 
cf  lead. 

In  like  manner  the  amount  of  oakum  can  be  found 
by  the  following  rule : 

RULE. — To  find  the  oakum  required  to  pack  soil- 
pipe  joints  allow  two  ounces  of  oakum  for  each  inch 
in  the  diameter  of  the  pipe. 

EXAMPLE. — What  weight  of  oakum  will  be  re- 
quired to  pack  twenty  6-inch  pipe  joints? 

SOLUTION. — According  to  the  rule,  12  ounces  of 
oakum  will  be  required  for  one  6-inch  pipe  joint,  there- 
fore 12x20=220  ounces,  or  15  pounds,  of  oakum 
will  be  required  for  twenty  6-inch  joints. 

Applying  the  two  foregoing  rules  to  the  example 
of  estimating  under  consideration,  we  find  that  it  will 
require  149  pounds  of  lead  and  about  18  pounds  of 
oakum  for  making  the  joints. 

The  labor  of  installing  the  pipe  is  the  only  item 
which  cannot  be  definitely  determined.  This  is  so 
much  a  matter  of  the  personal  ability  of  the  journey- 
man plumber  that  no  definite  length  of  time  can  be 
stated  which  would  not  be  too  short  for  some  work- 
men and  much  longer  than  would  be  required  by 
others.  Assuming,  however,  that  the  trenching  is 
done,  the  points  of  the  various  rising  lines  all  marked 
so  that  the  plumber  has  nothing  to  do  but  proceed 
with  the  installation  of  the  pipes  a  good  swift  work- 
man and  his  helper  would  install  the  pipe  shown  in  the 
illustration  in  two  days.  That  would  be  too  short  an 
allowance  to  make,  however,  as  the  average  workman 
could  not  do  it  in  less  than  three  days.  The  estimator 
must  know  his  men  and  be  familiar  with  their  capa- 
bilities and  limitations.  The  personnel  of  the  work- 

22 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

men  in  different  shops  varies  to  such  an  extent  that 
the  workmen  of  some  shops  require  on  an  average  50 
per  cent,  more  time  to  do  a  given  amount  of  work 
than  would  be  required  by  the  workmen  of  other 
shops. 

The  work  shown  in  the  illustration  is  supposed  to 
be  run  in  shallow  trenches  under  the  level  of  the  cellar 
floor.  If  run  in  deep  trenches  an  extra  allowance  of 
at  least  10  per  cent,  should  be  made  to  offset  the  extra 
work  and  difficulties  encountered.  If  on  the  other 
hand,  the  work  is  to  be  suspended  under  the  ceiling 
beams,  an  extra  allowance  of  50  per  cent,  should  be 
made. 

The  cost  of  labor  having  been  determined,  nothing 
remains  to  calculate  but  the  cost  of  fuel  for  melting 
the  lead.  This  can  be  arrived  at  by  the  number  o'f 
days  the  man  is  employed  on  the  work.  One  gallon 
of  gasoline  will  last  about  one  day,  so  that  if  the  work- 
man spends  three  days  on  the  work  it  would  require 
three  gallons  of  gasoline  to  supply  him.  The  various 
items  of  pipe,  fittings,  lead,  oakum,  fuel,  labor,  having 
now  been  ascertained,  there  remains  nothing  further 
to  be  taken  from  this  plan  and  the  task  of  taking  off 
quantities  may  be  considered  as  completed,  although 
by  no  means  has  the  entire  work  of  making  up  an 
estimate  been  finished,  for  items  of  freight,  dray  age, 
profit,  operating  and  other  expenses  which  will  be 
explained  later  must  be  taken  into  account,  and  the 
costs  of  the  various  items  ascertained.  The  weight 
of  standard  and  extra  heavy  soil  pipe  may  be  found 
in  Table  V,  and  from  these  weights  the  freight  and 
drayage  charges  can  be  calculated. 

23 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 


TABLE   V 

SIZES  AND  WEIGHTS  OF  CAST-IRON  SOIL  PIPE 


Inside  Diameter 
of  Pipe 

Average  Weights  Per  Lineal  Foot, 
Including  Hubs 

Standard 

Extra  Heavy 

2    inches 
3    inches 
4    inches 
5    inches 
6    inches 
7    inches 
8    inches 
10    inches 
12    inches 
15    inches 

3£  pounds 
4|  pounds 
6J  pounds 
8|  pounds 
10|  pounds 
13    pounds 
18    pounds 
25    pounds 
30    pounds 
45    pounds 

5J  pounds 
9J  pounds 
13    pounds 
17    pounds 
20    pounds 
27    pounds 
33  J  pounds 
44    pounds 
54    pounds 

Estimating  Cost  of  Wrought  Pipe. — In  taking 
off  the  quantity  of  wrought  pipe  for  an  operation  the 
plans  are  scaled,  as  in  the  case  of  cast-iron  pipe,  and 
the  fittings  are  counted.  All  of  the  branch  fittings 
that  will  be  required  can  be  determined  from  the 
drawings,  if  complete,  but  an  allowance  of  45°  elbows 
must  be  made  for  offsetting  around  obstructions  which 
might  not  be  shown  on  the  drawings,  and  to  offset  at 
various  heights  of  the  building  where  the  walls  are 
made  thinner.  This  latter  allowance  is  necessary 
only  when  the  stacks  are  run  against  outside  walls, 
from  which  they  are  to  be  spaced  a  uniform  distance. 

The  number  of  extra  fittings  required  for  this 
purpose  can  be  ascertained,  with  a  fair  degree  of  ac- 
curacy, by  noting  the  various  floors  of  the  building 
where  offsets  will  have  to  be  made,  and  locating  the 
various  obstructions  in  the  basement  around  which 
the  horizontal  pipes  will  have  to  be  run. 

The  manner  of  taking  off  quantities  from  wrought- 
pipe  systems  is  shown  in  Fig.  3.  In  the  example 

24 


Plumbing    Estimates     and     Contracts 

illustrated  the  fittings  occupy  so  much  of  the  space 
that  the  sum  of  the  length  of  the  different  pieces  of 
pipe  would  be  found  by  scaling,  and  only  that  amount 
of  pipe  listed  in  the  estimate  sheet.  This  is  the  more 
necessary,  as  there  is  but  little  waste  to  wrought  pipe 
and  allowance  need  not  be  made  for  waste,  as  would 
be  the  case  with  cast-iron  pipe. 

Having  the  number  of  feet  of  pipe,  the  fittings 
would  next  be  counted,  and  if  this  layout  represents 
the  work  in  a  number  of  toilet  rooms  the  pipe  and 
fittings  in  the  one  layout  can  be  multiplied  by  the 
number  of  toilet  rooms  in  the  building  to  ascertain 


Fig.  3 


the  total  number  of  fittings  and  length  of  pipe  re- 
quired to  rough -in  all  the  toilet  rooms.  The  neces- 
sity for  accuracy  in  estimating  can  well  be  pointed 
out  and  emphasized  in  this  example.  For  instance, 
there  are  4  double  Y's,  and  measuring  the  length  of 
the  fittings,  then  adding  the  distance  from  the  center 
of  the  fitting  to  the  end  of  the  branches,  each  Y  fitting 
occupies  2  feet  in  length.  Besides  the  branch  fit- 
tings there  are  9  elbows,  each  of  which  occupies  6 
inches  along  the  run.  If,  therefore,  a  careless  es- 
timator, instead  of  taking  off  only  the  exact  amount  of 
pipe  required  for  each  toilet  room,  were  to  scale  over 

25 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 


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27 


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all,  measuring  the  fittings  as  though  they  were  pipes 
in  one  layout,  such  as  shown  in  the  illustration,  he 
would  figure  on  using  12J  feet  of  pipe  more  than  would 
be  required.  Then,  in  a  building  many  stories  in 
height,  where  there  are,  say,  twenty  toilet  rooms  to 
be  roughed-in,  in  accordance  with  the  sketch,  he 
would  figure  on  using  20xl2J  equals  250  feet  of  pipe 
more  than  his  more  careful  competitors,  and  this 
one  item  of  excess  cost  might  lose  the  contract.  If 
not,  there  is  no^  doubt  but  that  an  estimator  so  care- 
less as  to  figure  that  quantity  of  pipe  more  than  is 
required  for  roughing-in  the  toilet  rooms  would  be 
equally  careless  in  taking  off  other  quantities,  and 
either  lose  the  work  by  being  too  high  or  overlook 
some  important  item  which  would  win  the  contract 
for  him  to  his  sorrow. 

Knowing  the  quantity  of  pipe  and  fittings,  the 
number  and  kind  of  hangers  must  be  ascertained, 
and  the  labor  measuring,  cutting,  threading  and  in- 
stalling the  pipe.  This  will  depend  not  only  on  the 
personnel  of  the  workmen  but  on  the  quality  of  the 
tools  given  them  to  work  with .  Cutting  and  threading 
large  pipes  is  machine  work  and  satisfactory 
work  cannot  be  economically  done  with  old,  wornout, 
unsuitable  hand  tools.  If  the  contractor  expects 
good  work  of  average  quantity  he  must  supply  his 
workmen  with  the  necessary  tools  and  apparatus. 
As  the  matter  stands,  each  estimator  must  determine 
for  himself  just  how  long  it  will  take  his  workmen  to 
do  the  work  with  the  tools  and  apparatus  at  their 
command. 

In  estimating  the  cost  of  fittings  for  wrought  pipe 
it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  all  large  size  fittings — 

28 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 


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31 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

that  is,  fittings  1-j-  inches  in  diameter  and  larger — are 
listed  and  sold  at  a  certain  price  per  fitting.  This  is 
likewise  true  of  all  cast-iron  steam  and  water  fittings 
of  whatever  size.  Malleable  fittings,  on  the  other 
hand,  if  under  1 J  inches  in  size  are  sold  by  the  pound, 
according  to  certain  classifications.  According  to  the 
classifications  the  smaller  fittings  cost  more  per  pound 
than  the  large  fittings,  but  to  compensate  for  that  fact 
there  are  more  fittings  to  a  pound.  The  size  and  classi- 
fication of  the  various  fittings  can  be  seen  in  Table  VI. 

The  list  prices  for  the  various  classes  of  fittings 
indicated  in  Table  VI  are  subject  to  change  at  any 
time.  They  are  here  given  merely  to  show  compara- 
tively the  cost  per  pound  of  the  various  classes  of 
malleable  fittings. 

For  quick  reference  the  plumber  will  find  it  a 
great  convenience  to  have  at  hand  a  card  showing  in 
tabular  form  either  the  list  or  the  net  prices  for  each 
fitting  of  the  various  kinds  and  sizes.  If  a  net  price 
list  for  black  malleable  fittings  is  compiled,  while 
more  convenient  for  reference  it  will  have  to  be  re- 
vised from  time  to  time,  sometimes  as  often  as  once 
a  week,  as  the  discount  fluctuates;  while  if  a  card  or 
chart  made  up  as  shown  in  Table  VII  be  prepared, 
giving  the  list  prices,  the  table  will  not  have  to  be 
changed  until  a  new  list  is  adopted  by  the  association 
of  manufacturers,  a  revision  which  occurs  only  once 
in  several  years. 

Such  a  table  will  save  untold  time  figuring  the 
number  of  the  smaller  fittings  in  a  pound  of  the  vari- 
ous classes,  or  the  number  of  pounds  in  a  fitting  of  the 
larger  sizes.  The  card  can  easily  be  ruled  by  the  book- 
keeper on  a  large  bristol-board  card,  and  the  prices 

32 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 


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Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 


per  piece  filled  in,  a  place  being  left  at  the  bottom  for 
the  discount  and  date  of  last  quotation. 

In  like  manner  the  list  price  on  galvanized  malle- 
able fittings  is  shown  in  Table  VIII.  This  table  may 
be  ruled  on  a  separate  sheet  of  bristol  board,  or  placed 
on  the  back  side  of  the  price  list  for  black  malleable 
fittings. 

In  order  that  the  estimator  may  compute  the  cost 
of  freight  and  drayage,  he  must  be  able  to  reduce  the 
number  of  feet  of  wrought  pipe  to  pounds.  This 
he  can  readily  do  by  means  of  tables  IX.,  X.  and  XL 

Estimating  Cost  of  Copper  or  Brass  Pipe. — 

Brass  pipe,  also  copper  pipe,  is  sold  by  the  pound,  the 

TABLE   XII 

SEAMLESS  DRAWN  BRASS  AND  COPPER  TUBES 

IRON  PIPE  SIZES 


Same  as 
Iron  Pipe 
Inches 

Weight  per  Foot 
Approximate 

Approx. 
Outside 
Diameter 
Frac. 
Inches 

Exact 
Outside 
Diameter 
Dec. 
Inches 

Exact 
Inside 
Diameter 
Dec. 
Inches 

Brass 

Copper 

1 

.25 

.26 

| 

.405 

.281 

.43 

.45 

ft 

.540 

.375 

.62 

.65 

ft 

.675 

.494 

.90 

.95 

¥ 

.840 

.625 

1.25 

1.31 

1.050 

.822 

1 

1.70 

1.79 

ITS 

1.315 

1.062 

U 

2.50 

2.63 

If 

1.660 

1.368 

M 

1 

3.00 

3.15 

11 

1.900 

1.600 

2 

4.00 

4.20 

2.375 

2.062 

2i 

5.75 

6.04 

2! 

2.875 

2.500 

3 

8.30 

8.72 

3.500 

3.062 

3J 

10.90 

11.45 

4 

4.000 

3.500 

4 

12.70 

13.34 

.}  i. 

4.500 

4.000 

43 

• 

13.90 

14.60 

5 

5.000 

4.500 

5 

15.75 

16.54 

&TS 

5.563 

5.062 

6 

18.30 

19.22 

g| 

6.625 

6.125 

7 

25.30 

26.57 

Vf 

7  .  625 

7.062 

Stock  Lengths,  12  feet 


34 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 


price  depending  upon  the  quality  and  size  of  the  pipe 
and  whether  it  is  plain  or  polished.  Fittings  are  sold 
by  the  piece,  not  by  the  pound,  so  that  in  taking  off 
quantities  the  pipe  would  be  scaled  and  .the  fittings 
counted  the  same  as  for  wrought  pipe.  There  is  this 
difference  in  the  case  of  brass  and  copper  pipe,  how- 
ever— when  the  number  of  feet  of  the  various  sizes 

TABLE   XIII 

SEAMLESS  DRAWN  BRASS  AND  COPPER  TUBES 

EXTRA  HEAVY  IRON  PIPE  SIZES 


Same  as 
Iron  Pipe 
Inches 

Weight  per  Foot 
Approximate 

Exact 
Outside 
Diameter 
Dec.  Inches 

Exact  Inside 
Diameter 
Dec.  Inches 

Brass 

Copper 

I 

.370 

.388 

.405 

.205 

.625 

.650 

.540 

.294 

| 

.830 

.870 

.675 

.421 

I 

1.200 

1.260 

.840 

.542 

4 

1.660 

1.750 

1.050 

.736 

1 

2.360 

2.478 

1.315 

.951 

H 

3.300 

3.465 

1.660 

1.272 

1* 

4.250 

4.462 

1.900 

1.494 

2 

5.460 

5.733 

2.375 

1.933 

2* 

8.300 

8.715 

2.875 

2.315 

3 

11.200 

11.760 

3.500 

2.892 

3* 

13.700 

14.385 

4.000 

3.358 

4 

16.500 

17.325            4.500 

3.818 

NOTE — When  "Extra  Heavy  Iron  Pipe  Size"  is  ordered 
this  list  is  followed  unless  order  specifies  a  certain  per  cent 
heavy. 

of  brass  and  copper  pipe  have  been  ascertained  they 
should  be  multiplied,  respectively  by  their  weights 
per  lineal  foot,  to  reduce  the  quantities  to  pounds. 

The  weights  per  foot  vary  with  the  quality  of 
pipe  specified,  which  should  be  stated  in  the  specifi- 
cations. If  not  stated  the  weights  can  be  found  in 
catalogues  of  plumbing  goods.  To  those  who  are 

35 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 


skilled,  in  working  brass  or  copper  pipe  it  takes  no 
longer  to  install  a  piece  of  work  than  if  the  work  were 
to  be  done  with  iron  pipe.  In  fact,  if  anything  it  is 
easier  and  quicker  to  work  brass  or  copper  pipe  than 
it  is  to  work  iron  pipe.  The  weights  per  foot  cor- 
responding to  the  various  sizes  of  brass  and  copper 
pipe  can  be  found  in  Tables  XII,  XIII  and  XIV. 

TABLE   XIV 

BRASS  PLUMBING  TUBES 

STANDARD  SIZES 


Size 

Stubs  Gauge 

Approximate 
Weight 
per  Foot 

Exact  Out- 
side Diameter 
Dec.  Inches 

Exact  Inside 
Diameter 
Dec.  Inches 

f 

15 

.46 

.654 

.521 

15 

.56 

.768 

.631 

7 

15 

.67 

.875 

.728 

1 

14 

.88 

1.000 

.836 

If 

13 

1.27 

1.245 

1.060 

If 

13 

1.55 

1.508 

1.311 

If 

13 

1.82 

1.756 

1.564 

2 

13 

2.10 

2.007 

1.815 

Estimating  Lead  Roughing. — The  lead  rough- 
ing for  a  toilet  room  is  estimated  by  taking  off  all 
the  quantities,  such  as  lead  pipe,  bends,  traps,  fer- 
rules, solder  nipples  and  solder  required  for  the  work. 
To  this,  of  course,  would  be  added  the  cost  of  labor, 
operating  expenses,  profit,  etc.,  but  these  would  be 
made  up  separately  and  not  confused  with  the  items 
of  materials.  For  instance,  in  taking  off  quantities, 
instead  of  allowing  so  much  for  that  work  and  adding 
at  the  same  time  the  percentage  for  operating  ex- 
penses and  profit,  the  materials  alone  are  taken  off 
first,  then  the  labor  for  the  entire  installation  is  cal- 
culated when  there  is  nothing  else  to  keep  in  mind, 

36 


Plumbing     Es-ti  mates     and     Contracts 


after  which,  when  the  entire  list  of  quantities  is  com- 
pleted and  the  cost  ascertained,  the  items  of  profit 
and  expense  are  added.  In  the  example  illustrated 
in  Fig.  4  the  estimator  must  bear  in  mind  that  the 
pipes  are  not  all  on  one  plane,  as  indicated,  but  that 
the  fixture  centers  are  located  on  an  average  about 
fourteen  inches  from  the  wall  where  the  pipes  are  con- 
cealed, and  allowance  of  that  length  of  pipe  must  be 


made  for  each  back  vent  or  waste  pipe  where  it 
crosses  under  the  floor  to  intersect  the  main  waste 
pipe.  Keeping  this  in  mind,  the  length  of  the  differ- 
ent sizes  of  pipe  can  be  scaled  and  the  amounts  jotted 
.down.  Having  the  amount  of  lead  pipe,  the  number 
and  sizes  of  traps,  bends  and  ferrules  should  be  noted. 
The  oakum  and  lead  for  calking  the  ferrules  will 
be  allowed  for  in  the  estimate  of  the  soil  pipe,  so  that 

37 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

of  all  the  materials  for  the  lead  roughing  of  this  lay- 
out only  the  solder  remains  to  be  calculated.  A  com- 
mon practice  among  plumbers  is  to  allow  one  pound 
of  solder  for  each  wiped  joint;  but  that  method,  at 
best,  is  but  a  system  of  guesswork.  If  the  joints  to  be 
wiped  are  all  small  and  the  plumber  who  installs  the 
work  makes  short,  skimpy  joints,  an  allowance  of 
one  pound  might  be  entirely  too  much,  while  if  the 
pipes  are  all  large  and  the  plumber  wipes  long  heavy 
joints  the  allowance  will  be  entirely  too  small.  The 
best  way  is  for  the  careful  estimator  to  familiarize 
himself  with  the  size  and  weight  of  joints  wiped  by 
the  employees  of  his  shop  and  either  by  measurement 
or  weighing  ascertain  the  average  weight  of  joints 
on  each  size  of  pipe,  then,  making  due  allowance  for 
solder  that  is  lost  in  wiping  or  stolen  from  the  job, 
a  fair  idea  of  the  weight  of  solder  to  allow  per  joint 
can  be  formed.  This  is  not  so  trifling  and  unimport- 
ant as  it  might  seem,  for  the  difference  in  amounts  of 
solder  used  in  different  cities  is  considerable.  For 
instance,  around  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis,  Duluth  and 
West  Superior  the  average  length  of  joints  on  f-  lead 
pipe  used  to  be  about  three  inches,  while  at  the  same 
time  in  Chicago  the  same  size  joints  did  not  average 
over  1  inch  in  length.  It  stands  to  reason,  then,  that 
if  the  3-inch  joint  took  only  one  pound  of  solder,  the 
1-inch  joint  would  take  but  one-third  of  that  quan- 
tity, and  should  be  so  calculated  on.  To  give  some 
idea  of  the  carelessness  of  the  pound-per-joint  method 
of  estimating,  and  at  the  same  time  show  how  to 
approximate  the  amount  of  solder  used  in  a  joint, 
reference  is  had  to  Fig.  5.  This  shows  a  section  of 
4-inch  pipe  cut  in  two  lengthwise  through  a  joint. 

38 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 


The  solder  in  this  joint  is  assumed  to  be  f  of  an  inch 
thick,  and  2J  inches  long. 

To  find,  then,  the  approximate  cubical  contents 
of  the  solder  it  is  necessary  to  find  the  length  of  the 
joint  if  rolled  out  into  a  straight  line.  The  inside 
diameter  of  the  pipe  is  4  inches,  the  pipe  J-inch  thick 
and  the  thickness  of  the  solder  f-inch,  so  that  the 
distance,  (a),  would  be  equal  to  4+f+£=4-f  inches. 
This  represents  the  diameter  of  the  ring  of  solder 


Fig.  5 


forming  the  joint,  and  as  the  circumference  of  a  cir- 
cle is  3.1416  times  the  diameter,  the  length  of  the 
solder  joint  is  4f  =4.625x3.1416  =  14.52  inches.  The 
joint  extends  2J  inches  along  the  pipe  and  is  f-inch 
thick,  but  it  tapers  from  end  to  center,  so  that  in  the 
average  joint,  if  spread  uniformly  over  the  entire 
surface,  the  solder  would  be,  perhaps,  about  J-inch 
thick.  If,  then,  the  length  of  the  joint  be  multiplied 
by  the  width  and  thickness  the  entire  cubical  contents 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

of  the  solder  in  inches  will  be  found.  Thus,  in  this 
case,  14. 52x2. 5x. 25  =  9  cubic  inches  of  solder  on  a 
4-inch  joint. 

Solder,  such  as  is  used  for  wiping  weighs  approx- 
imately .352  pound  per  square  inch  so  that  the  solder 
for  a  4-inch  joint  would  weigh  9x. 352= 3. 168  pounds. 
It  will  thus  be  seen  that  allowing  one  pound  of  solder 
for  a  4-inch  joint  entails  a  loss  of  over  two  pounds  on 
each  joint  wiped  not  counting  the  solder  tossed  away 
in  the  process  of  wiping  and  never  recovered.  In 
view  of  this  fact,  and  the  further  one  that  according 
to  the  same  calculation  a  2-inch  pipe  requires  1} 
pounds  of  solder  it  may  be  well  to  again  emphasize 
the  necessity  for  determining  the  actual  amount  of 
solder  required  for  joints  of  various  sizes  and  not  de- 
pending on  the  pound-per-joint  method  which  does 
not  give  even  approximate  results. 

In  the  absence  of  exact  data  as  to  the  quantity 
of  solder  required  for  wiping  joints,  an  empirical  rule, 
which  will  be  found  perfectly  safe  even  allowing  for 
loss  due  to  nipping  pieces  of  soft  metal  from  the  pipe, 
is  to  allow  for  each  large  joint  one  pound  of  soider  for 
each  inch  in  diameter  of  the  pipe,  and  for  pipes 
smaller  than  1-inch  in  diameter,  one  pound  of  solder 
per  joint.  According  to  this  rule  the  solder  required 
for  the  work  shown  in  Fig.  4  would  be  ascertained  as 
follows : 

Pounds 

One  4-inch  joint 4 

Five  2-inch  joints,  @  2  Ibs.  per  joint 10 

Five  1^-inch  joints,  @  1J  Ibs.  per  joint , 7.5 

21.5 
40 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 


Lead  pipe  is  sold  by  the  pound,  so  that  once  the 
quantity  of  the  various  sizes  of  pipe  is  ascertained 
it  can  be  reduced  to  pounds  by  multiplying  the 
lengths  of  the  various  sizes  of  pipe  by  the  weights 
per  foot.  The  weights  of  lead  pipe  of  various  grades 
can  be  found  in  Table  XV. 

TABLE  XV 

SIZE  AND  WEIGHT  OF  LEAD  PIPES 


Caliber 


Weight  per  Foot 


Pounds     Ounces 


/2-inch   Tubing 1| 

J-inch  Tubing 3 

•3^-inch   Tubing 4 

J-inch  Tubing „ 6 

Fish  Seine 15 

f-inch  Aqueduct 8 

Ex.  Light 9 

f-inch  Light 12 

Medium 1 

Strong 1  8 

Ex.  Strong 2 

1-inch  Aqueduct 10 

Ex.  Light 12 

Light 1 

Medium 1  4 

Strong 1  12 

A.  A 2 

Ex.  Strong 2  8 

Ex.  Ex.  Strong 3 

f-inch  Aqueduct 12 

Ex.  Light 1  4 

Light 1  12 

Medium 2 

Strong 2  8 

Ex.  Strong 3 

Ex.  Ex.  Strong 3  8 

f-inch  Aqueduct 1 

Ex.  Light 1  8 

Light 2 

Medium 2  4 

Strong 3 

Ex.  Strong. 3  8 

Ex.  Ex.  Strong. , 4 


41 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 


TABLE   XV- (Continued) 
SIZE  AND  WEIGHT  OF  LEAD  PIPES 


Caliber 


Weight  per  Foot 


Pounds     Ounces 


|-inch   Aqueduct 1             8 

Ex.  Light 2 

Light 2            8 

Medium 3 

Strong 3             8 

1-inch  Aqueduct 1            8 

Ex.  Light 1 

Light 2            8 

Medium 3            4 

Strong 4 

Ex.  Strong 4           12 

Ex.  Ex.  Strong 5            8 

If-inch  Aqueduct 2 

Ex.  Light 2            8 

Light 3 

Medium 3          12 

Strong 4          12 

Ex.  Strong 6 

Ex.  Ex.  Strong 6          12 

1^-inch  Aqueduct 3 

Ex.  Light 3            8 

Light 4 

Medium 5 

Strong 6 

Ex.  Strong 7            8 

Ex.  Ex.  Strong 9 

If-inch  Ex.  Light 3          12 

Light 4            8 

Medium 5            8 

Strong 6            8 

Ex.  Strong 8 

2  -inch  Waste 3 

Ex.  Light 4 

Light 5 

Medium 7 

Strong 8 

Ex.  Strong 9 

Ex.  Ex.  Strong 10            8 


42 


P  1  u  m  b  i  n  g    Estimates    and     Contracts 

Estimating  Sheet-Lead  Work. — Estimating  the 
material  for  sheet-lead  work,  such  as  the  lining  of 
tanks  with  lead,  is  very  simple.  All  that  is  necessary 
to  find  the  amount  of  lead  is  to  measure  the  square 
feet  of  surface  to  be  covered  and  multiply  the  num- 
ber of  square  feet  by  the  weight  of  lead  to  be  used. 
That  will  give  the  total  weight  of  sheet  lead  required. 
Six-pound  and  8-pound  lead  are  the  weights  gener- 
ally used  for  lining  tanks.  By  6-pound  lead  is  meant 
a  thickness  of  sheet  lead  1  square  foot  of  which  will 
weigh  6  pounds.  Four-pound  to  6-pound  sheet  lead 
is  generally  used  for  safes,  under  fixtures  and  floors. 
One  square  foot  of  sheet  lead  iV  inch  thick  weighs 
4  pounds.  Sheet  lead  is  rolled  in  thickness  so  that 
it  may  be  had  in  2f  3,  3J-,  4,  4J,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  10,  11 
and  12-pound  weights.  If  weights  different  from 
the  foregoing  are  specified  an  extra  allowance  of  10 
per  cent,  of  the  cost  must  be  made  to  cover  the  extra 
charge  of  the  manufacturers  for  special  weights. 

The  solder  required  for  wiping  seams  in  tanks  will 
average  3  square  inches  to  the  foot,  which  is  equal 
to  slightly  over  one  pound  per  lineal  foot  of  wiped 
seam.  As  considerable  solder  is  lost  in  seam  wiping, 
besides  bulls-eyes  to  be  wiped  to  hold  the  sheet  lead 
in  place,  an  allowance  of  1 J  pounds  of  solder  for  each 
lineal  foot  of  seam  in  the  tank  will  be  about  right, 
One  box  of  tinned  tacks  will  be  found  sufficient  for 
holding  the  seams  in  place  in  an  average-sized  tank. 

In  estimating  the  time  required  for  lining  tanks 
or  other  receptacles  with  lead,  it  is  necessary  for  the 
plumber  to  know  just  what  sizes  of  the  various  weights 
of  sheet  lead  he  can  get,  so  he  will  know  whether  one 
sheet  will  do  for  an  entire  side,  or  whether  the  lead 

43 


Plumbing     Estimates    and     Contracts 

will  have  to  be  patched  out  to  cover  a  given  surface. 
The  sizes,  weights  and  other  information  regarding 
sheet  lead  can  be  had  from  Table  XVI. 

TABLE   XVI 

WEIGHTS  AND  MAXIMUM  SIZES  OF  SHEET  LEAD 


Weight  Per 
Square  Foot 

Thickness  in 
Inches 

Maximum  Sizes  of  Sheets 

1    pound 

1-64 

8  feet  by  20  feet 

li  pounds 

1-43 

8  feet  by  20  feet 

2    pounds 

1-32 

7  feet  by  45  feet 

2i  pounds 

1-24 

9  feet  by  45  feet 

3    pounds 

3-36 

10  feet  by  45  feet 

3i  pounds 

1-16 

10  feet  by  45  feet 

4    pounds 

1-16  full 

10  feet  by  45  feet 

5    pounds 

5-64 

10  feet  by  43  feet 

6    pounds 

3-32 

10  x  43  feet  or  11  x  40  feet 

6    pounds 

3-32 

11$  x  30  feet  or  llf  x  25  feet 

8    pounds 

i 

10  x  40  feet  or  Hi  x  35  feet 

10    pounds 
10    pounds 

1-6 
1-6 

Hi  x  30  feet,  11  x  40  feet,  or  10  x  48  feet 
llifeetx  40  feet 

12    pounds 

1-5 

11    x  40  feet  or  Hi  x  35  feet 

14    pounds 

1-5  full 

Hi  x  40  feet  or  llf  x  30  feet 

16    pounds 

i 

Hi  x  40  feet  or  llf  x  30  feet 

20    pounds 

Hi  x  40  feet  or  llf  x  38  feet 

20    pounds 

llf  x  36  feet 

24    pounds 

j 

llf  x  30  feet 

24    pounds 

i 

11  x  34  feet  or  Hi  x  32  feet 

30    pounds 

11  x  27  feet  or  Hi  x  25i  feet 

30    pounds 

^ 

Hi  x  24i  feet  or  12  x  16  feet 

40    pounds 

M 

11  x  24  feet  or  12  x  16  feet 

60    pounds 

1 

12  x  12  feet 

44 


CHAPTER  II 


ORIGINALITY    IN 
ESTIMATING 


SE  of  Stock  Fittings.— It  may  be  laid 
down  as  a  general  rule,  to  which  there 
are  only  a  few  exceptions,  that  the  en- 
tire work  in  a  plumbing  installation 
should  be  made  up  of  standard  stock  pipe 
and  fittings.  This  is  particularly  true  in  localities 
far  removed  from  supply  houses,  for  the  carrying  of 
special  fitting  necessitates  the  tying  up  of  consider- 
able working  capital,  without  the  excuse  of  it  being 
necessary.  For  instance,  single  and  double  hub 
pipe,  Y  fittings,  J-  bends,  TY  fittings  and  long-sweep 
J  bends  are  all  that  are  necessary  to  be  carried  in 
stock.  If  special  fittings  are  necessary  for  any  opera- 
tion they  can  be  ordered  with  other  materials  for 
that  work.  With  the  fittings  enumerated,  an  average 
workman  should  be  able  to  rough-in  any  building; 
and  using  45°-angle  Y  fitting  does  not  lead  to  the  con- 
fusion nor  require  the  numerous  fittings  that  go  with 
Y  branches  of  other  degrees  of  angle.  The  foregoing 
remarks  are  applicable  only  to  cast-iron  pipe  and  fit- 
tings. When  wrought-pipe  systems  are  to  be  in- 

45 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

stalled,  a  greater  variety  of  bends  are  required  than 
for  cast-iron  soil  pipe. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  fittings  should 
conform  to  the  work,  the  work  not  have  to  be  de- 
signed and  laid  out  so  9==^ 
as  to  use  special  fit- 
tings. If  a  fitting  is 
not  adaptable  and  XS/''"^ 

capable  of      /     JX* 

being  used     £          QT        ^]  HI 

in  almost  — MJ—          — Mi- 

Fig.  6 
any  line  of 

pipe,  or  in  any  position,  it  is  not  a  suitable  fitting 
to  carry  in  stock,  although  it  might  possess  great 
value  as  a  special. 

The  simplicity,  economy  and  convenience  of 
using  only  45°-angle  Y  fittings  and  \  bends  may  be 
seen  by  referring  to  Fig.  6.  When  a  45°-angle  Y 
fitting  is  used  the  branch  itself  will  project  a  straight 
connection  indefinitely  at  that  degree  of  inclination 
from  the  main  pipe. 
If,  however,  it  is  de- 
sired to  continue  the 
branch  line  parallel 
with  the  main  pipe 
it  can  be 


done    by 
using   a    \ 
bend  and 

g 

- 

II                      1  II 

Fig.  7 

turning  it  in  the  direction  shown  at  (a).  If,  on  the 
other  hand,  the  branch  is  to  be  continued  at  right 
angles  to  the  main  pipe,  this  can  be  accomplished  by 
means  of  a  J  bend,  by  turning  it  in  the  direction 

46 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

shown  by  the  fitting  (b) .  If  now,  instead  of  a  45°-Y 
fitting  a  half-Y  or  60°  branch,  (a),  Fig.  7,  be  used,  in 
order  to  project  the  branch  at  an  angle  of  45°  from 
the  main  pipe,  a  -gV  and  a  ^V  bend  would  have  to  be 
used  together  to  make  up  the  sum  of  the  15  degrees 
the  branch  is  away  from  a  45-degree  angle.  The 
two  bends  enumerated,  a  •£%  and  a  •£%  bend,  to- 
gether make  up  the  sum  of  ll-J  +  5f=16f  degrees 
which  is  If  degrees  more  than  is  wanted  but  is 
the  best  that  can  be  done  with  the  fittings  obtain- 
able. To  turn  the  branch  at  right  angles  from  the 
main  a  -f$  bend,  (6),  would  be  required,  and  to  turn 
the  branch  parallel  with  the  main  a  -5-  bend,  (c), 
would  be  required.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  it  is 
necessary  to  carry  in  stock  four  different  degrees  of 
bends,  when  half-Y  fittings  are  made  use  of,  and,  as 
full  Y  branches  and  J  bends  would  naturally  be  car- 
ried in  stock,  this  necessitates  an  expenditure  of  work- 
ing capital  for  seven  different  kinds  of  fittings,  where 
two  would  not  only  be  sufficient  but  better. 

It  will  pay  the  contractor  to  provide  plenty  of 
double-hub  pipe  on  every  operation,  as  it  will  save 
the  waste  entailed  by  cutting  single-hub  lengths  of 
pipe.  Even  in  cities  where  double  hubs  and  single 
hubs  are  permitted,  the  lead,  oakum  and  labor,  re- 
quired to  calk  a  hub  onto  a  piece  of  pipe  will  increase 
the  cost  to  far  more  than  that  of  double-hub  pipe. 
True  economy,  then,  lies  not  in  carrying  single  and 
double  hubs  in  stock,  but  in  ordering  a  liberal  amount 
of  double-hub  pipe. 

Use  of  Special  Fittings.— In  this  sense  the  word 
"special"  is  used  not  to  designate  fittings  which  are 

47 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

made  to  order,  but  such  stock  fittings  as  are  seldom 
used  in  practice.  An  examination  of  the  fittings 
listed  in  plumbing  catalogues  will  show  that  there  are 
many  kinds  of  fittings  made  which  the  average 
plumber  never  sees  in  his  experience  as  a  journeyman. 
The  estimator,  however,  should  familiarize  himself 
with  the  various  fittings,  so  as  to  have  stored  in  his 
memory  the  various  specials  he  can  call  upon  to  help 
lay  out  the  work  economically.  A  few  examples 
of  special  fittings  and  their  uses  will  help  to  make  the 
meaning  clear.  The  ordinary  TY  fitting,  such  as  is 
used  for  water-closet  outlets  at  the  various  floors  of 
a  building,  are  about  12  inches  long  from  the  center 
of  outlet  to  end  of  fittings,  and  soil  pipe  is  5  feet  long 
from  the  inside  of  hub  to  the  end  of  pipe.  If,  there- 
fore, a  building  to  be  roughed-in  has  10-foot  ceilings 
and  12-inch  joists,  as  shown  in  Fig.  8,  two  lengths 
of  pipe  and  the  necessary  fittings  will  just  reach  from 
floor  to  floor,  so  as  to  bring  the  outlets  at  their  respective 
heights.  If,  however,  the  ceilings  were  over  10  feet 
in  height,  two  lengths  of  pipe  and  an  ordinary  TY 
fitting  would  not  be  long  enough,  and  under  such  con- 
ditions a  short  piece  of  pipe  is  usually  cut  from  a 
double-hub  length  to  piece  out  the  pipe  and  bring 
the  outlets  to  their  proper  levels.  The  careful  es- 
timator, however,  who  is  posted  as  to  special  fittings, 
knows  a  trick  worth  two  of  that.  Instead  of  cutting 
a  length  of  pipe  for  the  soil  and  vent  stacks  at  the 
various  floors,  he  uses  long  TY  branches  for  the  soil 
and  waste  pipes,  and  long  T  branches,  to  bring  the 
waste  and  vent  outlets  to  their  proper  heights.  By 
this  means  he  saves  the  extra  lead,  oakum  and  labor 
required  to  cut  and  insert  a  short  piece  of  pipe, 

48 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 


eliminates  two  joints  at 
each  floor,  thus  reducing 
the  possible  cost  of  repair- 
ing leaky  joints  when  the 
test  is  applied,  and  the 
extra  length  of  fitting  costs 
no  more  than  an  equal 
length  of  soil  pipe.  In  the 
case  of  a  5-inch  soil  stack 
and  accompanying  3-inch 
vent  stack  the  lead  re- 
quired would  be  8  pounds, 
which  at  4  cents  per  pound 
would  cost  32  cents.  Add 
to  this  the  cost  of  oakum 
and  gasoline,  together  with 
the  labor  of  cutting  pipe 
and  making  the  joints, 
which  would  average  over 
an  hour,  at,  say,  65  cents 
per  hour  for  plumber  and 
helper,  and  one  dollar  per 
floor  can  be  figured  as 
saved  on  each  double  line 
of  stacks.  In  many  tall 
buildings  there  are  a 
number  of  stacks,  and  if, 
for  example,  a  building 
having  eight  such  floors 
be  assumed,  and  twelve 
double  lines  of  pipe  ex- 
tending from  the  cellar  to 
roof,  there  would  be  a 


\ 

2 

:$$$$$$$$$$^$$$^ 
QVJ 

\ 

^ 

X      1 

1 

$ 

^ 



^ 

a 

XNNXN^^^ 

Fig.  8 


49 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

saving  of  8  x  12=$96  approximately  in  just  this  one 
item  of  cost. 

It  was  stated,  when  explaining  how  to  take  off 
quantities  from  plans,  that  fittings  in  the  groundwork 
should  be  measured  as  soil  pipe.  That  is  true,  for, 
besides  the  reasons  stated,  the  work  cannot  be  laid 
out  on  plan  so  as  to  show  exactly  the  way  the  lengths 
will  be  disposed,  and  some  allowance  must  be  made 
for  changes.  If  the  work  could  be  laid  out  accurately, 
the  same  as  for  rising  lines,  the  exact  amount  of  pipe 
required  would  be  ascertained  and  estimated  upon. 


Fig.  9 


Fig.  10 


Fig.  11 


That  is  what  the  careful  estimator  would  do  with 
rising  lines  when  he  can  figure  the  exact  amount  of 
pipe  required  to  reach  from  fitting  to  fitting  on  the 
several  floors. 

Long  T  branches  are  shown  in  Fig.  9,  and  the  sizes 
they  may  be  had  in  are  given  in  Table  XVII.  Long 
TY  branches  are  shown  in  Fig.  10,  and  the  sj^es  they 
may  be  had  in  are  indicated  in  Table  XVlf,  while  Y 
branches  of  long  pattern  are  shown  in  Fig.  11  and  the 
sizes  they  are  made  in  are  given  in  the  same  table. 

50 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 


Long  4-inch  J  bends,  Fig.  12,  also  -J-  bends  are  made, 
but  only  in  lengths  of  18  inches.  Long  quarter  bends 
but  not  long-turn  quarter  bends  are  shown  in  Fig. 
13,  and  long  quarter  bends  with  foot-rest  are  shown 


Fig.  12 


Fig.  13 


Fig.  14 

in  Fig.  14.  The  size  and  length  that  they  may  be 
had  in  can  be  found  in  Table  XVIII.  A  double  Y 
fitting  with  side  outlet  can  often  be  advan- 
tageously used 

on    vertical 

stacks   of   soil 

pipe.      Such  a 

fitting  is  shown 

in  Fig.  15.     The 

sizes  in  which  it 

may  be  had  are 
given  in  Table  XIX.  Double  angle  Ys,  Fig.  16, 
are  likewise  very  convenient  in  some  work  and 
should  be  borne  carefully  in  mind.  They  may  be 
had  in  the  sizes  stated  in  Table  XX 


Fig.  15 


Fig.  16 


51 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 


TABLE   XVII 

LENGTHS  AND  OUTLETS  OF  LONG  Y,  TY  AND  T  FITTINGS 


4  x  4,  24  inches  long 
4  x  4,  30      " 

4  x  4,  36      " 

5  x  4,  24      " 
5x4   30      " 


5  x  4,  36  inches  long 

6  x  4,  24      " 
6x4,30      " 
6  x  4,  36      " 


TABLE   XVIII 
SIZE  AND  LENGTHS  OF  LONG  QUARTER  BENDS 


2  inch,    14  inches  long 

3  "       15       "       " 

4  "       18 


5  inch  18  inches  long 

6  "     18       " 

8     "     18       " 


TABLE   XIX 

SIZE  OF  DOUBLE  Y  FITTINGS  WITH  SIDE  OUTLET 


4x 

4  w 

th 

2-inch  Outlet 

5 

x 

2  with 

2-inch  Outlet 

4x 

3 

* 

2     ' 

" 

6 

x 

6 

*  ' 

2 

* 

4x 

2 

* 

2     ' 

" 

6 

X 

5 

• 

2 

5x 

5 

1 

2     ' 

" 

6 

X 

4 

* 

2 

1 

5x 

4 

1 

2     ' 

11 

6 

X 

3 

« 

2 

4 

5x 

3      ' 

2     ' 

6 

X 

2      ' 

2 

' 

TABLE   XX 

SIZES  OF  DOUBLE  ANGLE  Y'S 


4x4  inch 


5x4  inch 


6x6  inch 


In  Fig.  17  is  shown  a  fitting  with 
four  outlets  all  of  the  same  size. 
This  type  of  fitting  will  be  found 
very  convenient  in  many  installa- 
tions, and,  although  the  design  might 
be  vastly  improved,  still,  as  it  is, 
the  fitting  is  perfectly  sanitary. 

Besides  the  special  cast-iron  soil 
fittings  the  estimator  should  bear  in 

mind   the   special  lengths  of  lead  traps  and  bends. 

Long  J-S  traps,  similar  to  Fig.  18,  may  be  purchased 


Fig.  17 


52 


Fig.  19 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

at  the  additional  price  of  what  the  extra  pipe  would 

cost,  and  thus  save  the  labor  and  solder  required  to 

make  a  joint  to  piece  the  trap  out  so  it 

will  reach  to  the  wall.     These  traps  are 

made  in  lj,  1J  and  2-inch  sizes,  and  are 

15  inches  long 

)    over  all.     Long, 
full-S   traps,    as 
shown  in  Fig.  19,   may  be  had 
Fig.  is       in  1J,  1J  and  2-inch  sizes,  meas- 
uring 24  inches  over  all.      As 
sinks  and  lavatories  are  set  2 
feet  6  inches  above  the  level  of  the  floor, 
a  trap  24  inches  long   will   easily   reach 
from  the  fixtures  outlet  to  the  floor. 

Of  the  different  types  of  lead  bends 
that  are  made,  each  has  advantages  when 
used  in  certain  positions.  There  is  no 
economy  in  ordering  an  ordinary  short 
lead  bend,  such  as  is  shown  in  Fig.  20, 
and  then  piecing  it  out  with  a  short  length 
of  lead  pipe.  The  better  practice  is  to 
purchase  either  long  bends  Fig.  21  or 


Fig.  20 


Fig.  21 


Fig.  22 


extension  bends  Fig.  22;  extension  bends  are  made 
in  the  sizes  indicated  in  Table  XXI. 


53 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

In  addition  to  the  special  fittings  pointed  out,  there 
are  a  number  of  patented  special  fittings  made  which 
can  sometimes  economically  be  worked  into  a  stack, 
although  they  are  not  desirable  fittings  to  carry  in 

TABLE   XXI 

DIMENSIONS  OF  EXTENSION  LEAD  BENDS 

5i  x  12  inches  10  x  15  inches 

Six  15       "  10x18       " 


stock,  as  the  stacks  must  be  designed  for  their  use, 
they  not  lending  themselves  to  the  building  up  of  an 
ordinary  stack.  The  enterprising  estimator  and  con- 
tractor will  keep  himself  posted  in  the  designs  of  such 
fittings,  and  be  familiar  with  their  dimensions  so 
as  to  use  them  when  conditions  warrant. 

It  might  be  well  to  state  in  this  place  that  bends 
are  now  made  with  one  end  spun  tight,  ready  for 
testing.  At  the  prices  charged  at  present  for  spin- 
ning these  ends  shut  —  that  is,  thirty  cents  each  —  it  is 
doubtful  if  there  would  be  any  economy  in  their  pur- 
chase; when,  however,  these  are  sold  at  the  regular 
price  of  lead  bends,  plus  the  cost  of  the  extra  lead  re- 
quired for  closing  the  head,  there  will  be  economy 
in  the  use  of  such  bends. 

Another  matter,  which  may  at  some  time  prove 
profitable  to  know,  is  that  where  special  fittings,  which 
are  not  carried  in  stock,  are  required  they  can  be  had 
upon  paying  the  additional  cost  of  a  pattern,  with, 
perhaps,  a  little  extra  for  the  trouble.  The  possi- 
bility of  having  special  fittings  made  should  not  be 
forgotten,  as  occasions  might  arise  in  large  installa- 

54 


Plumbing    Estimates     and     Contracts 

tions  where  economy  would  be  effected  by   having 
special  fittings  cast. 

Economizing  Pipe. — When  plumbing  details  of 
the  roughing-in  of  various  toilet  rooms  form  part  of 
the  working  drawings  in  a  set,  there  is  not  much  choice 
left  the  plumber  but  to  comply  with  the  require- 
ments. When,  however,  leeway  is  given  him  to  lay 
out  the  work  for  himself,  as  is  the  case  in  99  per  cent, 
of  plans  now  prepared,  simplicity  in  design  should  be 


Fig.  23 

his  aim;  for  every  foot  of  pipe  that  is  not  absolutely 
necessary  to  an  installation,  instead  of  improving 
the  work,  is  actually  detrimental  besides  unneces- 
sarily increasing  the  cost.  This  is  well  shown  by 
the  two  following  examples:  Fig.  23  shows  the  lay- 
out for  nine  lavatories  actually  installed  according  to 
this  design.  To  rough-in  this  work  a  number  of 
angle  fittings,  such  as  J  bends,  and  Y  branches,  were 
used  which  require  more  care  and  time  to  measure 

55 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

and  install  than  do  equal  amounts  of  pipe  made  up 
with  right-angle  fittings.  As  the  angle  fittings  in 
this  case  did  not  contribute  one  bit  to  the  efficiency 
of  the  installation  their  use  was  unnecessary.  Owing 
to  the  height  that  the  vents  are  carried  before  inter- 
secting the  main  stack,  the  workmen  had  to  build 
a  scaffold,  and  in  addition  to  the  time  wasted  in  this 
labor  the  extra  time  required  to  do  a  certain  work  on 
a  staging  must  be  considered.  Again,  more  fittings 
and  a  greater  amount  of  pipe  were  used  to  install  this 
work  than  would  be  required  to  install  it  according  to 


Fig.  24 

Fig.  24,  where  all  the  work  is  easily  accessible  from 
the  ground  and  in  which  the  installation  would  be 
equally  sanitary  and  far  less  costly.  It  will  readily 
be  seen,  therefore,  that  of  two  men  estimating  on  this 
installation  the  one  figuring  on  doing  the  work  ac- 
cording to  Fig.  24  would  effect  quite  a  saving  over  the 
one  estimating  to  do  the  work  according  to  Fig.  23. 
Study  the  layout  of  all  the  work  you  have  to  in- 
stall, cultivate  the  practice  of  laying  out  on  paper  the 
roughing-in  for  each  group  of  fixtures,  and  change, 

56 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

rearrange  and  alter  the  drawing  until  the  very  best 
arrangement,  requiring  the  least  amount  of  pipe, 
fittings  and  labor,  is  obtained.  After  a  time,  the 
planning  of  work  will  become  a  pleasure  and  the  sav- 
ing effected  will  go  a  long  way  toward  securing  work. 

Locating  the  Vertical  Stacks. — In  deciding 
where  to  extend  the  soil  and  vent  stack  up  through 
the  toilet  rooms  or  bath  rooms  on  the  various  floors 
of  a  building  the  arrangement  of  the  fixtures  must  be 
carefully  studied  and  the  stacks  so  located  that  there 


Fig.  25 


will  be  no  crossing  or  recrossing  of  pipes,  no  close  work 
or  complicated  network  of  pipes  to  contend  with,  and 
so  long  horizontal  runs  can  be  avoided.  It  is  a  good 
rule  to  locate  the  rising  lines  back  of  or  close  to  the 


57 


Plumbing    Estimates    and    Contracts 

water  closet,  and  if  this  cannot  be  effected  with  the 
layout  of  fixtures  shown  on  the  plans  permission 
might  be  given  to  rearrange  the  fixtures  so  as  to  avoid 
long  and  complicated  runs.  Further,  when  possible 
to  so  arrange  it,  the  lavatory  should  be  located  next 
to  the  closet,  then  the  bath  tub,  as  by  this  layout  of 
fixtures  less  time  and  material  are  required  to  rough - 
in  the  work  than  when  the  bath  tub  is  located  be- 


tween the  lavatory  and  closet.  To  show  the  economy 
effected  by  a  study  of  the  fixtures  some  simple  cases 
are  here  illustrated.  The  examples  shown  are  made 
simple  so  as  to  emphasize  the  points,  without  com- 
plicating the  text.  The  arrangement  of  fixtures  in 
a  single  bath  room  on  one  floor  only  of  a  building  is 
shown  in  Fig.  25.  As  here  arranged  the  water  closet, 

58 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 


lavatory  and  bath  tub  follow  in  their  proper  order 
and  the  stack  is  located  back  of  the  water  closet.  The 
arrangement  of  soil  and  waste  pipes  for  the  layout 
of  fixtures  is  shown  in  the  same  illustration.  In  this 
work  there  are  no  long  runs,  no  crossing  of  pipes,  and 
the  fittings,  lead  pipe  and  brass  goods  required  are 
reduced  to  the  lowest  limit,  while  owing  to  the  sim- 
plicity of  the  work  but  little  labor  would  be  required 
to  install  the  pipe. 


Fig.  27 


The  same  bath  room  with  a  different  arrangement 
of  fixtures  is  shown  in  Fig.  26.  Here  the  water  closet 
is  located  in  the  center,  the  lavatory  on  one  side  of  it 
and  the  bath  tub  on  the  other  side.  This  arrange- 
ment of  fixtures  as  may  be  seen  by  the  illustration, 
requires  a  little  more  pipe  than  in  the  former  layout, 
besides  requiring  two  extra  2-inch  brass  ferrules  and 
two  double  fittings  instead  of  single  ones.  The  labor 
is  about  equal  in  both  cases. 

59 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

In  Fig.  27  the  same  bath  room  is  shown  with  the 
bath  tub  placed  between  the  water  closet  and  the 
lavatory.  As  may  be  seen  by  the  arrangement  of 
pipes,  this  layout  requires  about  12  feet  more  pipe 
than  either  of  the  two  former  arrangements,  and  12 
feet  of  IJ-inch  pipe  weighs  36  pounds,  which  at  4 
cents  per  pound  would  run  the  cost  of  material  $1.44 
higher  than  the  first  layout,  besides  the  cost  of  extra 
time  required  to  install  the  pipe  according  to  this 
layout.  In  addition  to  the  waste  pipes,  12  feet  extra 
of  water  supply  pipe  would  be  required  for  a  bath 
room  with  fixtures  so  arranged,  and  this  arrangement 
with  its  extra  expense,  instead  of  providing  a  better 
layout,  is  actually  worse. 

It  will  require  but  little  study  of  the  foregoing 
illustrations  to  show  that  if  the  soil  stack  were  lo- 
cated at  any  other  point  than  back  of  the  closet  more 
material  and  labor  would  be  required  to  install  the 
work.  For  instance,  if  the  stack  were  in  the  wall  to 
the  left  of  the  water  closet,  as  shown  at  (a) ,  in  Fig.  27, 
it  would  not  only  take  more  material  and  labor  to 
rough-in  the  bath  room,  but  more  bends  would  be 
required,  which  should  be  avoided  as  much  as  pos- 
sible. The  partitions  in  which  soil  stacks  are  located 
are  generally  shown  on  the  plans  as  being  4  inches 
thick.  This  is  due  merely  to  the  common  practice 
of  making  the  partitions  on  the  plans  all  of  one  size, 
not  because  the  architect  insists  that  nothing  larger 
be  used.  If  the  matter  is  taken  up  with  the  architect 
as  soon  as  the  contract  is  signed  deeper  partitions 
will  be  provided,  so  that  all  of  the  pipes  can  be  easily 
concealed  and  horizontal  pipes  run  without  weaken- 
ing the  studding  too  much  when  pipes  are  notched 

60 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

in.  Where  a  soil  and  vent  stack  can  be  run  together 
it  is  well  to  have  a  6  or  8-inch  partition,  as  the  case 
may  require;  then,  instead  of  running  the  pipes  side 
by  side,  place  one  a  little  back  of  the  other,  as  shown 
in  Fig.  28,  so  that  their  branches  can  cross  without 


Fig.  28 

interfering  with  each  other.  The  convenience  of 
such  an  arrangement  of  pipes  will  save  much  time  on 
the  item  of  labor.  It  is  well  to  arrange  the  pipes  in 
that  manner,  whether  or  not  they  are  to  be  concealed 
in  partitions. 

Rearranging  the  Fixtures  or  Stacks. — Most 
plumbing  plans  are  prepared  by  a  draughtsman  who 
knows  very  little  about  the  niceties  of  plumbing  de- 
sign and  who  gives  the  layout  but  little  study.  Con- 
sequently, very  few  sets  of  plans  are  submitted  for 
estimates  which  cannot  be  improved  upon.  In  some 
cases  architects  wish  their  drawings  followed  closely, 
whether  or  not  the  layout  is  economical;  but  when 
the  architect  will  permit  changes  to  be  made  and  the 
contractor  is  at  liberty  to  improve  the  installation 
much  material  can  often  be  saved.  A  few  examples 
will  be  given  to  illustrate  the  way  fixtures  and  stacks 
may  be  changed  in  order  to  economize  material  and 
labor. 

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Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 


In  Fig.  29  is  shown  the  layout  of  fixtures  in  the 
bath  rooms  and  kitchens  of  a  row  of  flats.  A  line  of 
5-inch  soil  pipe,  with  an  accompanying  3-inch  yent 
stack,  was  planned  for  the  two  bath  rooms  on  each 
floor,  and  a  line  of  3-inch  waste  pipe  accompanied  by 
a  2-inch  vent  stack  was  to  be  run  for  the  kitchen 
sinks  and  laundry  tubs.  In  estimating  and  installing 
the  work  the  estimator  dispensed  with  the  waste  and 
vent  stacks  for  the  sinks  and 
laundry  tubs,  and  by  rear- 
ranging the  fixtures  and 
changing  the  location  of  the 
soil  stack  to  the  position 
shown  in  Fig.  30  effected  a 
better  and, 
at  the  same 
time,  more 
economical 
installation. 
In  planning 
the  work  a 
double  angle 


Y,   similar  to 


Fig.  16,  was  used  for  outlets 

to  the  two  closets,  and  a 

double    Y    with     2-inch 

branches  calked  into   the 

angle  Y,  provided  outlets  for  the  kitchen  fixtures  on 

one  side  and  the  bath   tubs   and  lavatories   on   the 

other.     By  this  arrangement  of  fixtures  and  stacks 

not  only  were  the  time  and  material  which  would  have 

been   required  for  the  separate  kitchen  stacks  saved, 

but  that  saving  was  effected  without  the  use  of  an 

extra  fitting  on  the  soil  stack  and  with  a  consider- 

•62 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 


able  saving  of  labor  roughing-in  the  bathrooms,  which 
were  made  simpler  by  the  change. 

In  roughing-in  the  work  provision  was  made  for 
an  8-inch  partition  in  which  to  conceal  the  pipes,  and 
nothing  showed  in  the  respective  rooms  but  the  short 
lengths  of  pipe  from  fixtures  to  wall. 

Another  example  of  the  economy  of  rearranging 
fixtures  may  be  cited  in  the  case  of  a  hotel  in  which 
the  work,  as  originally  laid 
out,  was  to  have  been  as 
shown  in  Fig.  31.  The  illus- 
tration is  a  reproduction  of 
the  original  drawing,  show- 
ing the  layout  of  fixtures  and 
run  of  pipes 
for  each  of 
the  100  bath 

; 

rooms.  Ow- 
ing to  the 
soil  stack 
having  been 
indicated  as 
closet  to  one 


Vent 


Fig.  30 


exposed    in    a 

side  of  one  of 
the  bath  rooms  it  became 
necessary  to  run  all  the 
roughing-in  pipes  under  the 
bath  room  ceilings  and  all  exposed.  How  the  vent 
pipes  were  to  be  run  was  not  shown,  but  no 
matter;  by  the  time  they  were  in,  the  partitions 
around  the  bath  rooms  would  have  been  a  network  of 
pipes.  It  will  be  observed  that  under  the  ceiling  of 
the  bath  rooms  on  each  floor  about  15  feet  of  4-inch 
soil  pipe  would  have  to  be  run  and  supported  with 

63 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 


hangers,  while  5  branches  and  about  20  feet  of  2-inch 
pipe  would  likewise  be  required.  All  of  this  unneces- 
sary piping  was  saved,  the  work  simplified  and  hund- 
reds of  dollars'  worth  of  labor  economized  by  rearrang- 
ing the  fixtures  as  shown  in  Fig.  32  and  running  all  the 
pipes  in  the  partitions,  which  were  made  deep  enough 


to  conceal  them.  In  addition  to  the  saving  effected 
by  simplifying  the  design,  no  drainage  pipes  were 
exposed  in  any  of  the  bath  rooms,  closets  or  other 
rooms  of  the  building,  but  were  concealed,  as  they 
should  be,  for  large  drain  pipes  are  far  from  being 
ornamental  in  rooms. 

Estimating  Labor. — In  the  estimating  of  plumb- 
ing work  the  one  uncertain  item  of  expense  is  the 
labor.  This  is  due  to  two  causes.  In  the  first  place, 
all  workmen  are  not  equally  good  designers,  and  those 
who  do  not  plan  the  work  far  enough  ahead  are  liable 
to  so  complicate  the  installation  as  to  necessitate 
from  10  to  20  per  cent,  extra  labor  and  material. 
This  difference  between  the  efficiency  of  men  can  be 
equalized,  however,  by  carefully  preparing  working 
drawings  for  work  where  there  are  no  detail  drawings 
furnished  with  the  plans.  By  this  practice  all  work- 
men in  the  shop  are  put  upon  the  same  footing,  and 

64 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

better,  as  well  as  more  economical,  results  will  be  ob- 
tained. But  even  when  working  on  exactly  the  same 
kind  of  work,  some  workmen  accomplish  more  than 
others  and  do  it  with  such  ease  that  it  shows  they 
belong  in  a  higher  class.  Indeed  the  difference  in 
quantity  of  work  is  not  confined  to  individuals,  but 
is  true  of  shops.  Some  contractors  employ  only  the 
best  of  workmen,  to  whom  they  often  pay  more  than 
the  prevailing  rate  of  wages,  while  others  are  con- 
tented with  whatever  men  they  can  get,  so  long  as 
they  will  work  for,  or  below,  the  prevailing  scale  of 
wages.  It  follows,  therefore,  that  there  is  an  aver- 
age day's  work  of  all  the  workmen  engaged  in 
the  business,  and  that  there  is  an  average  day's 
work  for  the  workmen  in  each  shop.  To  the 
careful  estimator,  the  average  day's  work  for  the 
craft  is  of  little  use.  He  wants  to  know  the  capacity 
and  limitations  of  the  workmen  in  his  own  shop,  as 
that  is  what  he  must  be  guided  by.  In  every  shop 
there  are  swift  workmen  and  slow  workmen,  and  in 
basing  his  estimate  he  must  not  accept  as  a  standard 
of  quantity  what  can  be  performed  by  the  fastest 
workers  in  his  employ.  If  he  does  the  item  of  labor 
will  show  a  deficit  when  the  contract  is  completed, 
for  all  of  his  workmen  will  not  live  up  to  his  calcu- 
lations. On  the  other  hand,  the  output  of  the  slow- 
est workmen  must  not  be  taken  as  a  standard.  If 
it  is,  too  much  labor  will  be  allowed  for,  and  the  bid 
might  be  too  high  to  secure  the  contract.  The  only 
safe  way  is  to  figure  out  what  the  average  output  of 
the  men  might  be  and  use  that  as  a  basis  for  calculating 
the  labor. 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

When  a  contractor  first  starts  in  business,  and  be- 
fore he  has  secured  work  and  organized  a  working 
force,  he  must  have  some  basis  on  which  to  calculate 
the  cost  of  labor.  For  the  benefit  of  such  individuals, 
as  well  as  for  whatever  other  good  it  may  do,  the  ap- 
proximate amount  of  work  of  various  kinds  which 
can  be  performed  by  the  average  workman,  together 
with  ways  of  checking  the  estimate,  will  be  given. 

In  running  cast-iron  soil  pipe  in  the  ground,  where 
the  trenches  are  dry,  no  measurements  to  be  taken, 
pipe  to  be  cut  or  fittings  to  be  inserted,  an  average 
workman  should  be  able  to  calk  24  joints  of  6-inch 
pipe,  which  would  be  equal  to  120  lineal  feet.  If  run- 
ning 5-inch  pipe  he  should  be  able  to  calk  140  lineal 
feet,  and  if  small  pipe,  160  lineal  feet.  Where,  how- 
ever, measurements  must  be  taken,  the  building 
prepared  to  receive  the  pipe  which  must  be  cut  and 
calked,  12  joints  of  6  inch,  15  joints  of  5  inch,  18  joints 
of  4  inch,  20  joints  of  3  inch  or  22  joints  of  2  inch 
would  be  about  an  average  day's  work.  That  allow- 
ance should  be  sufficient,  even  when  the  pipes  are 
to  be  run  under  ceilings,  or  placed  in  any  other  part 
of  a  building  where  the  work  would  be  considered 
difficult  of  access.  In  tall  buildings,  where  companion 
stacks  of  soil  and  vent  pipe  are  extended  from  the 
cellar  to  the  roof,  the  plumber  and  his  helper  should 
be  able  to  carry  a  5-inch  soil  stack  and  3-inch  vent 
stack  two  stories  in  height  each  day. 

It  might  be  well  to  state  that  in  the  foregoing 
allowances  it  was  assumed  that  the  journeyman  had 
for  an  assistant  an  apprentice  or  helper. 

The  amount  of  wrought  pipe  that  can  be  handled 
should  be  judged  in  each  case  from  the  layout  of  the 

67 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

work,  and  the  amount  of  cutting  and  fitting  required. 
It  is  obvious  that  the  quantity  of  work  in  the  line 
which  represents  a  day's  labor  cannot  be  stated  in 
feet,  because  in  some  parts  of  the  installation  40  or 
50  pieces  of  pipe  might  have  to  be  cut  and  fitted  to 
use  up  only  about  30  feet  of  pipe,  while  in  other  cases 
hundreds  of  feet  of  pipe  might  be  installed  without 
cutting  half  a  dozen  threads.  When  the  pipe  is 
fairly  easy  to  install  all  in  full  length  and  with  but 
few  fittings,  such  as  pump  pipes  and  overflow  pipes, 
100  feet  of  2J  and  3-inch  pipe  would  be  a  fair  day's 
work,  and  80  feet  of  4  and  5-inch  pipe,  or  60  feet  of 
6  to  8-inch  pipe  would  likewise  be  considered  a  good 
day's  work. 

In  work  such  as  the  usual  labor  of  installing 
wrought-pipe  drainage  systems,  where  the  large  sizes 
of  pipe  are  cut  by  a  machine,  the  measuring  and  in- 
stalling of  12  pieces  of  4-inch,  4J-inch,  5-inch  or  6-inch 
pipe  would  be  a  fair  day's  work.  Fourteen  pieces 
of  3-inch  or  3J-inch;  18  pieces  of  2-inch,  measured, 
cut,  threaded  and  installed,  or  24  pieces  of  1J  or  1^- 
inch,  measured,  cut,  threaded  and  installed,  would 
constitute  a  fair  day's  work. 

In  the  running  of  water-supply  and  drip  pipes  32 
pieces  of  J-inch  or  1-inch  pipe,  measured,  cut,  threaded 
and  installed,  would  be  a  fair  day's  work,  while  one- 
half  of  that  amount,  or  16  pieces,  would  represent 
a  fair  day's  work  installing  the  same  size  of  polished 
brass  or  nickel-plated  brass  pipes.  For  J-inch  or 
^-inch  pipe  48  pieces  would  not  be  a  large  day's 
work  for  wrought  iron,  while  one-half  that  amount 
of  brass  or  nickel-plated  brass  pipes  could  be  installed. 

68 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

When  estimating  the  labor  roughing-in  lead  work, 
S  wiped  joints  are  generally  considered  a  day's  work. 
By  referring  to  Fig.  25,  which  shows  the  roughing-in 
for  a  bath  room,  it  will  be  observed  that  there  are  8 
wiped  joints  on  the  lead  pipes,  and  that  amount  of 
work  would  be  considered  an  average  day's  work 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  a  good  workman  would  rough-in 
the  lead  work  of  two  such  rooms  in  one  day. 

Referring  to  the  same  figure,  it  will  be  further 
noted  that  the  vent  connections  for  all  the  fixtures 
are  installed  and  all  that  will  be  necessary  to  connect 
the  basin  to  the  drainage  system  will  be  2  wiped  joints, 
while  the  bath  tub  will  require  but  one.  It  may  be 
assumed,  therefore,  that  the  three  fixtures  in  the  bath 
room  can  be  set  and  connected  up  complete  with 
water  supply  in  one  day,  It  is  assumed  that  the 
rising  lines  of  water  supply  are  already  installed  and 
outlets  left  in  each  room. 

If,  instead  of  roughing-in  the  lead  work  as  shown 
in  the  illustration,  the  stacks  were  run  and  short 
pieces  of  lead  pipe  extended  through  the  plaster  so 
the  lead  roughing  would  have  to  be  done  at  the  time 
the  fixtures  were  set,  the  three  fixtures  could  not  be 
set  in  one  day  and  more  time  would  have  to  be  allowed 
for  roughing-in  and  finishing  the  bath  room. 

Checking  the  Estimate  for  Labor. — Noting  the 
time  required  for  roughing-in  the  lead  work  and  set- 
ting the  fixtures  in  the  bath  room  will  show  the  es- 
timator how  the  labor  he  estimates  for  any  builtiing 
can  be  checked. 

The  roughing-in  for  the  three  fixtures  cited  took 
one  day,  and  another  day  was  required  for  setting  the 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

fixtures.  That  makes  two  days  for  three  fixtures, 
or  two-thirds  of  a  day  for  each  fixture.  By  allow- 
ing, now,  one  more  day  to  a  bath  room,  or  one-third 
of  a  day  for  each  fixture  for  the  time  required  install- 
ing the  house  drain,  running  the  stacks,  branches, 
water  pipes,  pump  pipes  and  doing  other  work  of  a 
similar  nature,  it  makes  an  average  of  one  day's  labor 
for  each  fixture  in  the  building.  Counting  the  num- 
ber of  fixtures,  therefore,  and  comparing  the  number 
with  the  days  allowed  for  one  workman  to  do  the 
work  will  show  whether  any  serious  error  has  been 
made  in  his  calculation  of  time.  If  he  has  allowed 
either  more  or  less  days  than  there  are  fixtures,  and 
the  difference  is  great,  he  is  put  upon  inquiry  to  go 
over  his  figures  again  to  learn  the  cause  of  the  discrep- 
ancy or  find  the  error,  if  there  be  one. 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  foregoing  ex- 
planation is  given  merely  to  illustrate,  and  cannot  be 
depended  upon  as  a  check  in  all  cases.  In  flat  build- 
ings, hotels,  office  buildings  and  other  structures 
where  the  fixtures  are  pretty  well  bunched,  the  day- 
per-fixture  rule  will  serve  very  well  for  a  check.  In 
buildings,  however,  where  the  fixtures  are  scattered 
and  most  of  the  labor  is  in  the  roughing-in,  or  where 
heavy,  elaborate  and  unusual  fixtures  are  installed, 
the  same  method  can  be  employed,  but  a  different 
allowance  must  be  made  to  suit  the  case. 

Each  estimator  should  compile  for  himself  a 
schedule  of  time  required  for  different  classes  of 
buildings  where  he  has  installed  the  work,  and  from 
this  data  obtain  coefficients  that  will  show  in  his 
individual  shop  what  time  to  allow  per  fixture,  as  a 
check  on  different  classes  of  work. 

70 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

When  estimating  the  labor  for  a  building,  the  ma- 
terials of  which  the  structure  is  built  and  the  quality 
of  the  material  must  be  carefully  looked  into.  This 
is  of  more  importance  in  old  buildings  than  in  new, 
although  it  is  a  point  well  worth  considering  in  any 
case.  Many  of  the  old  Government  buildings  which 
were  erected  to  endure  for  centuries  have  walls,  floors, 
partitions  and  roofs  of  such  hardness  that  a  day  will 
often  be  required  to  cut  through  the  mason  work, 
where  in  ordinary  structures  a  half  hour  would  accom- 
plish the  desired  result.  A  reinforced  concrete  build- 
ing, likewise,  is  much  harder  to  install  a  plumbing 
system  in  than  a  frame  house,  for  the  cutting  for  pipes, 
hangers  and  other  purposes  requires  a  much  greater 
expenditure  of  labor. 

Again,  it  might  be  well  to  emphasize  the  fact  that 
the  estimator  who  depends  on  the  average  day's 
work  of  the  craft  will  lose  most  of  the  work  he  esti- 
mates on.  Averages  are  good  as  a  check  and  as  a 
basis  for  arriving  at  the  real  capacity  of  workmen,  but 
averages  are  not  to  be  depended  upon  in  estimating. 
The  rule  is,  know  your  men,  know  your  buildings  and 
understand  fully  the  work  to  be  performed, then  from 
the  fulness  of  this  knowledge  figure  out  the  number  of 
days  required  to  do  the  work  by  one  of  the  average 
workmen  in  the  shop.  Having  determined  this  quan- 
tity, check  it  with  the  fixture-per-day  rule,  applica- 
ble to  the  building,  and  there  will  be  little  danger  of 
going  astray  on  the  cost  of  labor. 

Estimating  Catch  Glauses. — In  many  specifi- 
tions  the  estimator  will  find  paragraphs  to  the  effect 
that  a  certain  well-known  first-quality  fixture  or  one 

71 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

"equally  good"  will  be  required,  and  he  is  at  a  loss 
how  to  estimate  under  the  circumstances. 

The  question  which  naturally  arises  in  his  mind 
is,  what  will  the  architect  consider  "equally  good?" 
Sometimes  such  a  condition  is  innocently  or  ignor- 
antly  inserted  in  a  specification  instead  of  specifying 
two  or  more  makes  of  goods,  any  one  of  which  will 
be  acceptable  by  an  architect  who  wishes  to  give  his 
client  the  benefit  of  competition  but  does  not  know 
just  how. 

More  often,  however,  it  is  a  catch  clause,  inserted 
to  give  some  one  the  benefit  in  estimating.  If  the 
favorite  is  awarded  the  contract  a  cheap  grade  of 
goods  can  be  substituted  as  "equally  good"  instead 
of  better  quality  and  more  expensive  fixtures  speci- 
fied as  a  standard.  Should,  on  the  other  hand,  some 
competitor  who  was  not  approved  by  the  architect 
be  awarded  the  contract,  no  matter  what  he  esti- 
mated on,  or  how  good  the  quality  of  goods  offered, 
they  would  not  be  accepted  because  they  were  not, 
within  the  architect's  understanding,  up  to  the  stand- 
ard or  "equally  good"  as  those  specified. 

Verbal  instructions  before  the  contract  is  let,  that 
a  certain  sample  submitted  will  be  acceptable,  cannot 
always  be  depended  upon  unless  a  note  to  that  effect 
is  made  in  the  specifications;  consequently,  the 
plumbing  contractor,  in  order  to  protect  himself  in 
such  cases,  must  estimate  on  furnishing  the  goods 
actually  specified,  not  something  "equally  good". 
It  is  better  to  lose  the  contract  without  losing  money 
than  to  be  awarded  the  contract  and  lose  money. 

Another  form  that  catch  clauses  sometimes  take 
is  not  to  specify  any  certain  make  of  goods,  but  to 

72 


P  1  u  m  b  i  n  g    Estimates    and     Contracts 

call  for  certain  articles  of  a  kind  to  be  approved  by 
the  architect.  Such  a  condition  in  a  specification 
is  hard  to  estimate  on.  For  instance,  in  places  where 
rough-body,  iron-wheel,  hard-seat  globe  valves  are 
generally  used  the  architect  might  insist  on  finished 
nickel-plated  brass  gate  valves  with  wooden  wheels. 
Usually,  when  such  a  clause  is  made  part  of  a  specifica- 
tion, the  architect  or  his  representative  is  too  busy  to 
pass  upon  the  quality  of  the  work  before  the  contract 
is  awarded,  and  the  estimator  has  absolutely  no  infor- 
mation that  will  guide  him  in  arriving  at  a  price. 
Under  such  conditions  the  only  alternative  is  for  the 
estimator  to  figure  on  using  a  quality  and  kind  of 
fitting  or  fixtures  that  will  protect  himself  no  matter 
what  goods  the  architect  might  call  for. 

There  are  many  such  little  catch  clauses  worked 
into  some  specifications,  and  the  more  of  them  present 
the  more  careful  must  the  estimator  be.  There  is 
no  reason  why  anything  in  a  plumbing  specification 
should  be  left  open  for  future  decision  or  should  be  left 
vague  or  indefinite.  It  is  an  easy  matter  to  state  just 
what  material  will  be  required,  or  several  of  like  ma- 
terial, any  or  all  of  which  will  be  acceptable.  Where 
an  architect  sees  fit  to  do  otherwise  he  might  be  inno- 
cent in  his  intention,  but  the  estimator  must  judge 
by  the  wording  of  the  specifications  and,  to  protect 
himself,  figure  on  the  most  expensive  material  that 
can  reasonably  be  insisted  upon. 

Allowance  for  Salvation  Clauses. — When  an 
architect  or  engineer  is  incompetent  to  prepare  plumb- 
ing plans  and  write  the  specification  so  as  to  cover  fully 
all  the  materials  to  be  furnished  and  the  work  he  wants 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

done,  he  covers  his  incompetency  at  the  expense  of 
the  contractor  by  inserting  a  clause  giving  himself 
unlimited  power.  That  is  a  salvation  clause.  Usually, 
while  unable  to  write  a  specification,  that  type  of 
architect  or  engineer  is  quite  proficient  at  the  wording 
of  salvation  clauses,  so  that  the  most  innocent  seem- 
ing statement  leaves  it  in  his  power  to  decide  how 
much  work  and  what  material  are  to  be  furnished 
according  to  the  plans  and  specifications.  A  usual 
form  of  salvation  clause  is  the  statement:  "The 
work  shall  be  under  the  general  supervision  of  the 
architect,  whose  decision  as  to  the  true  intent  and 
meaning  of  the  drawings  and  specifications  will  be 
final  and  conclusive."  At  some  other  part  of  the 
specification  the  clause:  "All  work  and  material 
must  be  first  class  in  every  respect,  and  to  the  satis- 
faction of  the  architect."  Combining  these  two  con- 
ditions gives  the  architect  such  power,  together  with 
what  he  may  usurp,  that  in  operation  they  generally 
insist  that  anything  they  wish  done,  no  matter  how 
whimsical  and  unreasonable,  is  part  of  the  contract, 
because  without  it,  in  their  opinion,  the  work  would 
not  be  first  class,  and  they  are  the  ones  to  decide  the 
point. 

Such  a  clause  is  a  dangerous  power  to  place  in  the 
hands  of  an  unscrupulous  man,  and  generally  those 
who  resort  to  such  unreasonable  subterfuges  are  not 
overburdened  with  scruples.  It  is  well  to  beware  of 
the  terms  "first  class"  in  a  specification.  It  is  an  un- 
necessary term,  at  best,  for  if  the  plans  are  properly 
prepared,  and  the  specifications  properly  worded,  the 
two  combined  will  show  conclusively  the  quality  of 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

materials  and  class  of  work  to  be  furnished  and  the 
combined  salvation  clauses  can  be  omitted. 

The  salvation  clause  is  simplicity  itself  in  opera- 
tion. If  for  any  reason  the  designer  does  not  like 
the  work  as  laid  out,  if  he  conceives  of  a  way 
the  work  can  be  made  more  costly  without  adding 
one  bit  to  its  appearance  or  efficiency,  if,  in  short, 
any  way  presents  itself  so  the  contractor  can  be  har- 
ried into  additional  expenses  which  will  use  up  all 
of  the  profit  figured  on,  and  some  of  his  own  money, 
depend  on  it  that  that  type  or  architect  or  engineer 
will  insist  on  the  work  being  done ;  for  it  is  the  boast 
of  that  class  of  individuals  that  no  contractor  ever 
makes  a  profit  on  their  work.  To  enforce  their 
orders  payment  is  refused  until  their  dishonest  de- 
mands are  complied  with.  It  is  gratifying  to  say, 
however,  that  the  salvation-clause  architect  is  the  ex- 
ception. Most  architects  insist  on  good  work,  but 
are  willing  to  have  the  contractor  make  a  fair  profit 
on  their  contracts. 

When  salvation  clauses  are  found  in  a  specifica- 
tion the  estimator  has  the  alternative  of  two  safe 
courses.  He  can  either  refuse  to  estimate  on  the 
work,  thus  saving  loss  of  time,  worry  and  loss  of 
money  should  he  secure  the  contract  at  his  usual 
price,  or  he  can  follow  the  example  of  those  who  have 
learned  by  experience  and,  after  finding  his  cost, 
double  it  and  add  from  50  to  100  per  cent,  to  his  bid, 
indifferent  whether  he  is  awarded  the  contract  or 
not. 

Allowing  for  Incidentals  and  Sundries. — No  esti- 
mator, no  matter  how  careful  he  may  be,  will  be  able 

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Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

to  foresee  all  the  material  that  will  be  required  for  a 
certain  operation  or  who  can  foretell  all  items  of 
expense.  The  caving  of  a  trench  which  is  being  dug, 
damage  to  pipes  by  other  workmen,  breakage  of  fix- 
tures, split  pipes  or  fittings,  defective  work  of  any 
kind  which  must  be  made  good,  delay  waiting  for  an 
inspector  are  all  items  of  possible  expense,  any  one 
or  all  of  which  might  turn  up  to  increase  the  cost  of 
installation.  In  addition  there  are  sundry  items — - 
such  as  screws,  putty,  red  or  white  lead,  graphite  and 
other  small  articles,  the  cost  of  which  is  but  slight 
when  taken  separately,  but  in  the  aggregate  amounts 
to  a  tolerable  sum.  In  order  to  cover  all  these  items 
of  expense  an  allowance,  usually  of  a  lump  sum,  is 
made  under  the  classification  of  "Incidentals  and 
Sundries." 

The  amount  of  the  allowance,  of  course,  will  de- 
pend on  the  size  of  the  operation,  but  should  not  be 
large  for  any  size  of  building.  All  the  known  items 
of  expense  entering  into  the  installation  having  al- 
ready been  determined  a  small  allowance  will  do  for 
incidentals,  for  twenty-five  dollars  will  go  a  long  way 
in  purchasing  the  small  items  which  have  been  over- 
looked in  an  ordinary-size  job.  The  only  reason  for 
considering  such  materials  is  the  desire  of  determin- 
ing as  nearly  as  possible  the  total  net  cost  of  the  opera- 
tion to  the  contractor.  Whatever  profit  he  figures 
on  making  he  wishes  to  be  free  and  clear,  not  cut  down 
to  a  fraction  of  what  he  is  entitled  to  by  oversight  in 
not  allowing  for  all  materials  and  contingencies. 

Allowance  for  Board  and  Car  Fare. — It  is  neces- 
sary to  allow  for  the  item  of  board  only  when  the 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

operation  is  out  of  town  and  workmen  must  be  sent 
to  the  site  to  live  during  the  installation  of  the  work. 
In  allowing  for  board  for  the  workmen  the  estimator 
must  not  forget  that  a  number  of  trips  will  have  to  be 
made  to  the  building  by  the  contractor  during  the 
progress  of  the  work,  and  that  his  hotel  and  travel- 
ing expenses  are  just  as  much  items  of  cost  as  are  the 
fixtures  to  be  supplied.  Usually  an  allowance  of 
five  dollars  per  day  is  made  by  the  contractor  for 
hotel  expenses  for  every  day  he  is  at  the  building, 
and  to  this  amount  must  be  added  his  car  fare,  in- 
cluding a  berth  in  a  sleeper  if  the  distance  warrants 
it,  or,  at  all  events,  a  chair  in  the  parlor  car. 

Car  fare  must  be  allowed  for  the  workmen  to  and 
from  the  location  of  the  work  and,  as  they  will  have 
to  go  first  to  rough -in  the  building,  then  to  set  the 
fixtures,  an  allowance  of  two  fares,  going  and  coming, 
for  each  of  the  workmen  who  will  be  sent  must  be 
made.  In  order  to  determine  the  number  of  work- 
men that  will  be  required  at  one  time,  the  time  allow- 
ance in  the  contract  and  the  number  of  men  that  can 
be  economically  worked  at  one  time  must  be  con- 
sidered. 

Sometimes  both  board  and  car  fare  can  be  omitted 
from  the  estimate  when  the  work  figured  on  is  in  a 
large  city  and  local  workmen  can  be  secured  without 
trouble.  When,  however,  a  contractor  has  a  good 
crew  of  men  whose  capacities  he  knows  and  on  whom 
he  can  depend,  he  will  find  it  more  economical,  as  well 
as  more  satisfactory,  to  send  his  own  workmen  and  give 
them  the  benefit  of  their  board.  On  suburban  work, 
where  more  than  one  five-cent  car  fare  is  required  to 
take  a  workman  to  the  building,  car  fare  should  like- 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

wise  be  allowed.  The  unusual  distance  will  get  the 
workman  up  earlier  than  usual  in  order  to  reach  his 
work,  and  he  should  not  have  imposed  on  him  this 
additional  burden  of  paying  extra  car  fare. 

Allowance  for  Guaranteeing  Work. — In  some 
specifications  there  is  a  clause  requiring  the  contractor 
to  guarantee  the  installation  against  defects  in  work- 
manship and  material  for  a  certain  period  of  time, 
usually  from  one  to  two  years,  after  the  completion 
of  the  contract.  The  careful  estimator  for  a  respon- 
sible contractor  will  not  brush  this  condition  lightly 
aside  without  considering  it,  but  will  give  the  item  the 
proper  charge  in  the  cost  column.  Outside  of  the 
output  of  a  very  few  manufacturers  no  goods  entering 
into  a  plumbing  installation  are  guaranteed,  and  of 
the  few  makes  of  fixtures  which  are,  the  guarantee 
covers  only  the  replacing  of  the  defective  fixtures  with 
new  ones,  but  does  not  allow  for  the  labor  and  ma- 
terials necessary  to  make  the  change. 

It  will  be  seen,  therefore,  that  when  the  plumber 
is  called  upon  to  guarantee  work  done  under  his  con- 
tract he  is  called  upon  to  guarantee  materials  that  the 
manufacturer  will  not  take  that  chance  on,  and  if  he 
is  to  stand  sponser  for  other  people's  wares  he  should 
be  paid  liberally  for  the  risk  he  runs.  The  contractor 
has  no  choice  in  the  selection  of  his  goods,  which  are 
specified  by  the  architect,  and  having  no  alternative 
in  the  matter  when  he  puts  in  the  goods  called  for 
his  work  should  end.  If  the  goods  themselves  are 
inferior,  so  long  as  they  are  what  are  specified,  no 
blame  should  attach  to  the  contractor.  He  follows 
directions,  and,  having  done  so,  if  he  is  to  be  held 

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Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

responsible  for  the  poor  quality  of  the  work  turned 
out  by  some  manufacturer  he  is  entitled  to  payment 
for  the  responsibility. 

The  estimator  should  keep  himself  well  posted  as 
to  the  quality  of  the  several  goods  on  the  market, 
and,  in  proportion  as  the  goods  called  for  are  reliable 
or  not,  he  should  add  to  the  sum  charged  under  the 
item  of  "guarantee." 

Where  the  contractor  acts  as  guarantor,  even 
under  the  most  favorable  circumstances  when  the 
goods  are  guaranteed,  he  is  still  out  of  pocket,  for  he 
must  replace  the  defective  goods  at  his  own  cost. 
Where  the  goods  are  not  guaranteed  by  the  manu- 
facturer he  has  to  stand  not  only  the  cost  of  replacing 
the  defective  goods  but  also  the  purchase  of  new  fix- 
tures to  replace  the  defective  ones. 

Some  specifications  require  that  not  only  shall  the 
contractor's  work  be  guaranteed  against  defects  in 
material  and  workmanship,  but,  furthermore,  any 
damage  caused  to  the  building,  finishings  or  furnish- 
ings by  a  defect  in  material  or  workmanship  shall  be 
made  good  by  the  contractor.  This  places  upon  him 
the  additional  burden  of  insuring  the  building  against 
damage,  and  in  such  cases  an  extra  allowance  must 
be  made  to  cover  possible  damage  that  might  occur. 
The  estimator  should  remember  in  this  respect  that 
it  is  possible,  and  not  probable,  damages  he  must 
allow  for,  so  as  to  be  on  the  safe  side. 

Allowance  for  Operating  Expenses. — In  the  con- 
ducting of  a  business  there  are  sundry  items — such 
as  rent,  light,  fuel,  clerk  hire,  bookkeeping,  stationery, 
delivery  horse  and  wagon,  advertising,  display, 

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Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

salary  for  the  contractor  and  uncollectable  bills — • 
which  are  charged  against  the  business  and  are  as 
much  items  of  expense  to  charge  against  the  several 
contracts  as  the  fixtures  that  will  be  installed  in  the 
several  buildings. 

The  only  question  to  determine  is  the  exact 
amount  which  must  be  charged  against  each  opera- 
tion. Contractors  who  have  been  in  business  for  a 
few  years  know  about  what  percentage  their  operat- 
ing expenses  are  of  the  gross  amount  of  work  per- 
formed, and  allow  that  percentage  when  estimating 
new  work.  For  instance,  if  the  annual  operating 
expenses  tabulate  about  as  follows : 

Rent $  600 

Light — 60 

Fuel 80 

Clerks 600 

Bookkeeping 750 

Stationery 35 

Horse  and  Wagon 375 

Advertising  and  display 400 

Bad  accounts....  300 


Total $3,200 

and  the  volume  of  business  per  year  amounts  to 
$50,000,  the  operating  expenses  would  amount  to 
GT\  per  cent,  of  the  business  contracted  for,  and,  in 
estimating  new  work,  under  the  item  of  operating 
expenses  an  allowance  of  61%  per  cent,  of  the  estimated 
cost  of  the  work  should  be  made.  If  this  allowance 
were  not  made,  and  10  per  cent,  profit  were  figured 
on  the  operation,  the  actual  profit  earned  would  be 
less  than  3i\  per  cent.,  for  the  other  6i4o  per  cent. 

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Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

would  go  to  defray  the  operating  expenses  of  the 
business. 

When  a  contractor  starts  in  business  he  has  no 
means  of  knowing  just  what  his  operating  expenses 
will  be.  However,  he  can  make  a  pretty  fair  calcu- 
lation, basing  his  estimate  on  the  monthly  expense 
he  is  then  operating  under.  Rent  is  one  of  the  main 
items  of  expense,  and  this,  together  with  lighting, 
heat,  horse  and  clerk  bill,  he  can  approximate  fairly 
close —  so  close,  in  fact,  that  he  cannot  go  far  astray. 

The  main  point  to  emphasize  is  the  necessity  of 
adding  to  an  estimate  a  certain  percentage  to  cover 
the  cost  of  operating  the  business.  If  the  operating 
expenses  are  costing  the  contractor  10  per  cent.,  and, 
making  no  allowance  for  this,  he  adds  only  10  per 
cent,  profit  to  his  bill,  he  will  find  to  his  sorrow  that 
he  has  performed  the  work  without  profit  to  himself. 
The  following  items  will  be  found  to  include  the  chief 
operating  expenses  of  a  business : 

Salary  for  the  contractor. 

Salary  for  foreman  or  superintendent. 

Salary  for  bookkeeper  and  office  help. 

Shop  and  office  rent. 

Heat,  light  and  power. 

Uncollectable  accounts. 

Horse  and  wagon. 

Telephone  service. 

Fire  insurance. 

Accident  insurance  for  employees. 

Loss  of  and  wear  on  tools  and  plant. 

Depreciation  of  furniture  and  fixtures. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  salary  for  the  contractor  is 
one  of  the  items  of  operating  expense,  and  the  plumb- 
er should  not  forget  for  a  minute  that  he  should  draw 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

a  salary  in  addition  to  the  profit  from  the  business. 
In  a  business  sense,  as  well  as  physically,  the  contrac- 
tor and  his  business  are  separate  and  distinct  items. 
He  works  for  the  business —  not  for  himself — the  same 
as  he  would  for  another  firm  or  corporation,  and  the 
business  must  pay  him  the.  same  as  he  would  receive 
pay  from  any  other  business  or  concern.  The  profit 
arising  from  the  business  belongs  to  the  business, 
and  is  in  the  nature  of  interest  or  dividends  on  the 
money  invested.  For  example,  the  contractor  can 
always  command  a  salary  for  his  services,  and  his 
money  he  can  always  put  out  at  interest.  If  instead 
of  working  for  another  he  prefers  to  combine  his 
capital  and  services  in  a  business,  he  must  still  draw 
his  salary  and  interest  on  the  money  invested,  or 
else  he  is  operating  at  a  loss.  In  determining  what 
interest  or  profit  he  should  make  on  his  investment, 
he  must  remember  that  there  are  risks  in  business 
that  are  not  encountered  in  the  lending  of  money, 
and  he  must  be  reimbursed  accordingly  for  his  risks, 
knowledge  and  experience.  Above  all,  he  must  not 
make  the  mistake  of  so  many  beginners  of  consider- 
ing the  profit  his  salary,  and  not  allowing  in  the 
estimate  for  his  services. 

Allowing  Profit. — In  estimating,  the  question 
often  arises,  who  is  to  profit  by  an  estimator's  or  con- 
tractor's skill  in  design,  economy  of  management,  or 
closeness  in  buying.  That  is,  suppose  by  rearrang- 
ing fixtures  an  estimator  saw  where  he  could  save  $500 
on  an  operation;  should  he  figure  on  the  work  as 
planned  and  pocket  the  difference  between  the  cost 
as  originally  laid  out  and  as  rearranged,  or  should  he 

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Plumbing    Estimates     and     Contracts 

estimate  on  the  lower  cost  of  the  work  and  give  to 
the  owner  the  benefit  of  the  saving? 

There  is  no  doubt  but  that  if  an  estimator  knew 
positively  that  he  alone  possessed  sufficient  skill  to 
lay  out  the  work  so  economically  he  would  be  per- 
fectly justified  in  reaping  the  reward  of  merit  and  add 
to  the  profit  account  of  his  ledger  the  money  saved 
by  economical  design.  But  right  there  is  where  the 
stumbling  block  lies.  No  man  is  so  clever  but 
others  will  be  found  who  can  show  equal  results,  and 
the  estimator  who  figures  that  he  alone  can  lay  out 
work  economically  will  learn  to  his  sorrow  that  other 
minds  are  equally  bright  and  many  of  the  choice  con- 
tracts he  hoped  to  carry  off  will  go  to  rival  shops. 
The  only  safe  way  is  for  an  estimator  to  assume  that 
his  competitors  are  more  clever  than  he  is,  and  that  in 
order  to  bid  lower  than  the  others  he  must  find  the  very 
lowest  cost  he  can  satisfactorily  do  the  work  for;  then, 
knowing  the  profit  he  is  willing  to  do  the  work  for, 
add  it,  and  be  satisfied  whether  he  wins  or  loses.  If 
he  wins  the  profit  is  his.  If  he  loses  it  is  with  the 
knowledge  that  he  could  not  have  taken  off  another 
dollar,  so  he  has  nothing  to  regret. 

An  estimator  must  not  assume,  however,  that  be- 
cause he  could  not  do  the  work  cheaper  the  com- 
petitor who  took  it  at  a  lower  figure  will  lose  money. 
Perhaps  his  skill  in  design  is  greater  than  yours,  or 
he  has  some  other  method  of  procedure  which  enables 
him  to  do  the  work  at  a  lower  price.  It  is  a  good  plan 
for  an  estimator  when  he  has  lost  a  contract  for  being 
too  high,  after  he  has  figured  his  lowest,  to  inspect 
the  work  of  his  competitor  from  time  to  time  as  the 
installation  progresses,  to  see  if  he  can  discover  either 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

in  design,  workmanship  or  materials  wherein  the  dif- 
ference lies  between  his  cost  for  a  certain  piece  of 
work  and  his  competitor's. 

The  percentage  of  profit  to  add  to  an  estimate 
will  depend  greatly  upon  the  character  of  the  work. 
If  the  work  is  hazardous,  where  there  is  danger  of 
losing  considerable  if  everything  does  not  go  right, 
with  but  little  chance  for  profit  even  under  the 
most  favorable  circumstances,  a  percentage  of  from 
50  to  60  per  cent,  would  be  considered  a  fair  profit. 
For  example,  suppose  a  house  sewer  and  water  pipe 
were  to  be  extended  from  the  old  work  just  inside  a 
cellar  wall  to  the  sewer  and  water  pipes  in  the  street; 
that  the  soil  to  be  excavated  through  was  treacher- 
ous, likely  to  cave  or  give  other  trouble,  and  the  street 
was  a  busy  thoroughfare  where  accidents  might  hap- 
pen due  to  having  the  street  open.  In  such  a  case, 
if  the  cost  of  doing  the  work  were  $200,  a  profit  of 
50  per  cent,  or  even  60  per  cent,  would  not  be  ex- 
cessive. 

In  ordinary  work  within  buildings,  however,  no 
such  percentage  would  secure  the  contract.  Ordi- 
narily, on  all  work  in  small  cities,  and  on  small  in- 
stallations in  large  cities,  the  allowance  is  from  15  to 
20  per  cent.,  while  on  large  work  in  large  cities,  the 
allowance  is  from  8  to  10  per  cent.,  according  to  the 
nature  of  the  operation.  For  instance,  in  an  opera- 
tion where  most  of  the  cost  is  for  fixtures  and  very 
little  for  labor,  as  is  the  case  when  the  fixtures  are 
well  bunched  together,  an  allowance  of  8  per  cent, 
might  be  all  that  an  estimator  could  allow  with  a 
chance  of  winning.  Take,  for  instance,  a  toilet-room, 
or  a  couple  of  toilet  rooms,  at  an  institution  where 

84 


Plumbing    Estimates    an'd     Contracts 

eighty  fixtures,  each  averaging  $35,  are  to  be  installed 
and  where  three  workmen  in  thirty  days  can  install 
the  material.  In  such  a  case  the  cost  of  labor,  which 
is  the  uncertain  element  in  a  plumbing  estimate, 
bears  but  a  slight  proportion  to  the  entire  cost,  and 
the  signing  of  such  a  contract  is  almost  like  selling 
the  goods  on  delivery.  That  being  true,  and  there 
being  no  delay  for  the  money,  the  contractor  could 
better  afford  to  do  the  work  for  a  profit  of  8  per 
cent,  than  he  could  other  classes  of  work  where  the 
cost  of  labor  is  the  chief  item  for  a  profit  of  10  per 
cent.  It  may  be  well  to  remark,  however,  that  8  per 
cent,  is  too  low  an  allowance  to  make  only  in  excep- 
tional cases  where  the  circumstances  warrant.  Or- 
dinarily from  15  to  20  per  cent,  in  small  cities  and  8 
to  10  per  cent,  in  large  cities  are  the  profits  estimated 
on,  in  addition  to  the  operating  costs,  contingencies 
and  other  items  which  might  swell  the  actual  cost  to 
the  plumber.  It  might  be  added  that  8,  or  even  10, 
per  cent,  is  a  very  small  profit  to  allow  in  a  business 
as  uncertain  as  the  plumbing  business.  Unfortun- 
ately, however,  in  the  larger  cities  that  is  the  profit 
actually  estimated  on,  and  to  allow  a  greater  percent- 
age would  mean  the  loss  of  the  contract. 

Estimating  from  Incomplete  Plans. — It  is  a  sim- 
ple enough  matter  to  take  off  quantities  from  a  set 
of  drawings  which  are  full  and  complete  and  are  ac- 
companied by  detail  drawings;  but,  when  the  draw- 
ings only  show  the  locations  of  the  various  fixtures, 
as  most  plans  of  the  present  time  do,  an  entirely 
different  problem  is  presented. 

85 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

To  carefully  estimate  large  operations  when  there 
are  no  plumbing  plans,  the  only  safe  way  is  for  the 
contractor  to  prepare  a  complete  set  for  his  own  use. 
All  he  needs  to  do  is  to  get  a  set  of  blue  prints  from  the 
architect,  tack  over  the  floor  plans  pieces  of  tracing 
cloth  and  draw  an  outline  of  the  various  floors,  show- 
ing the  various  partitions,  toilet  rooms  and  the  loca- 
tion of  the  various  fixtures.  With  this  for  a  ground- 
work the  various  risers  and  vertical  stacks  of  soil, 
water,  vent  and  supply  pipes  should  be  marked  on 
the  several  floors,  and  detail  made  showing  the 
method  of  roughing-in  the  various  toilet  rooms.  In 
short,  he  should  make  as  full  and  complete  a  set  of 
drawings  as  the  architect  would  make,  although  they 
need  not  be  so  good.  Having  made  a  set  of  draw- 
ings, the  quantities  can  be  taken  off  in  the  same  man- 
ner as  when  the  finished  drawings  are  furnished  by 
the  architect. 

To  the  resourceful  estimator  the  incomplete  plans 
are  most  welcome,  as  they  give  him  an  opportunity 
to  lay  out  his  own  work  economically  without  his 
competitor  having  the  advantage  of  as  economical 
a  layout.  It  is  a  case  where  the  best  designer  should 
win,  but  is  not  so  satisfactory  or  economical  a  method 
for  the  owner. 

It  is  only  large,  complicated  and  important  opera- 
tions that  need  be  laid  out  in  full  by  the  estimator. 
In  small  work  a  piece  of  white  chalk  and  single  lines 
marked  on  the  blue  print  will  enable  the  skillful 
estimator  to  scale  the  drawings  and  take  off  his  quan- 
tities, while  the  chalk  mark  can  be  erased  subse- 
quently s*o  competitors  cannot  benefit  by  the  laying 
out  of  the  system.  Sometimes  a  pencil  is  used  for 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

this  purpose  by  an  estimator,  and  all  who  use  the  plans 
after  him  know  on  just  what  runs  he  figured,  and 
whether  or  not  the  design  was  economical,  while 
those  who  are  incompetent  to  lay  out  their  own  work 
benefit  by  the  pencil  marks  left  on  the  drawings. 

Every  plumber's  office  should  be  provided  with 
a  draughting  board,  instruments  and  materials,  and 
those  who  wish  to  follow  the  business  of  estimator 
or  become  contractors  should  learn  mechanical  draw- 
ing, so  they  can  lay  out  their  own  work  on  paper. 
The  drawings  being  for  their  own  use  need  not  be 
finished  productions,  so  long  as  they  show  clearly 
the  work  to  be  performed. 

Instead  of  using  tracing  cloth  and  inking  in  the 
lines,  the  experienced  estimator  can  use  tracing 
paper  and  lay  out  his  work  thereon  in  pencil  lines. 
Even  more,  he  can  lay  out  the  work  in  single  lines 
provided  he  is  going  to  take  off  the  quantities  him- 
self. If,  however,  one  man  in  an  office  who  is 
skilled  in  economical  design  is  to  lay  out  the  work 
and  another  man  take  off  the  quantities  from  the 
drawings  so  prepared,  the  better  plan  is  to  make  full 
and  complete  working  details,  then  there  is  no  pos- 
sibility of  the  assistant  going  astray  in  taking  off  the 
items.  If  there  is  a  handy  boy  in  the  office,  the 
work  of  making  plumbing  plans  and  details  will 
not  be  found  burdensome,  for  the  boy  can  do  all  of 
the  drawing  of  walls,  partitions,  toilet  rooms  and 
other  parts  of  the  building  which  only  require 
tracing,  and  all  the  chief  estimator  or  designer  will 
have  to  do  is  to  lay  in  his  pipes  and  make  his  de- 
tails. 

87 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

Sometimes  plans  which  are  turned  out  by  an 
architect's  office  as  full  and  complete  are  so  compli- 
cated that  an  estimator  sees  where  he  can,  by  re- 
drawing them  and  laying  out  the  work,  according  to 
his  own  ideas,  so  simplify  them  that  much  money 
can  be  saved.  When  such  is  the  case,  he  should 
receive  permission  from  the  architect  to  do  so  before 
going  ahead  with  his  estimate,  for  some  architects 
absolutely  refuse  to  permit  any  changes  to  be  made 
from  their  layout,  even  though  the  work  would  be 
bettered  thereby. 

When  permission  is  given  an  estimator  to  pre- 
pare his  own  layout  of  the  plumbing  work,  when  the 
architect's  layout  is  unsatisfactory,  whether  to  esti- 
mate on  the  original  layout,  and  rearrange  if  the  con- 
tract is  secured,  or  estimate  on  the  new  layout,  will 
depend,  of  course,  on  whether  all  the  competitors 
are  estimating  on  the  original  drawings,  or  likewise 
have  had  permission  to  arrange  to  suit  themselves. 


CHAPTER  III 


MAKING  UP   THE   ESTIMATE 


SE  of  Estimate  Blanks. — The  first  act  of 
an  estimator  when  about  to  figure  on  a  set 
of  plans  is  to  provide  himself  with  a  sched- 
ule of  materials  likely  to  be  used,  so  that 
nothing  can  be  overlooked  when  taking 
off  quantities.  It  goes  without  saying  that  some  form 
of  list  must  be  used  by  an  estimator  when  taking  off 
quantities,  and  if  he  depends  on  making  up  such  a 
list  as  he  proceeds  with  his  work  he  not  only  is  sure 
to  omit  some  important  items  that  will  cut  down  the 
contractor's  profit,  or  cause  him  to  lose  money  on  the 
work,  but  the  additional  time  required  to  make  up  a 
list  for  one  big  operation  would  more  than  pay  for 
the  printing  of  one  thousand  blanks.  Full  and  com- 
plete estimating  blanks  may  be  purchased  at  small 
cost  from  publishers,  or  the  plumbing  contractor  can 
make  up  a  list  applicable  to  his  own  locality  and  the 
conditions  that  there  obtain.  He  should  not  attempt 
to  do  much  estimating,  however,  without  a  list  of 
some  kind  to  check  his  calculation.  Indeed,  every 
known  means  should  be  employed  to  safeguard  the 
estimate  by  various  forms  of  checks.  The  plumbing 


Plumbing     Estimates    and     Contracts 

for  a  large  New  York  hotel  was  once  awarded  to  a 
contractor  who  was  well  along  with  his  work  before 
he  discovered  that  the  soil  pipe,  fittings  and  calking 
lead  for  the  work  had  been  entirely  overlooked.  Such 
a  state  of  affairs  would  have  been  impossible  if  an 
estimate  blank  had  been  used,  for  a  glance  would 
have  shown  the  missing  quantity. 

Form  of  Estimate  Blank. — An  estimate  blank,  to 
be  general  in  its  scope  and  applicable  to.  all  parts  of 
the  country,  would  necessarily  have  items  that  would 
not  be  used  under  all  conditions.  For  instance,  for 
suburban  work  and  country  institutions  sewage 
purification  plants  might  have  to  be  estimated  on  and, 
naturally,  would  have  to  be  included  in  a  complete 
estimate  blank,  even  though  such  materials  are  not 
required  in  large  cities.  On  the  other  hand,  in  large 
cities,  where  the  subbasements  of  tall  buildings  are 
extended  several  stories  below  the  level  of  the  street 
sewer,  sewage-ejectment  apparatus  must  be  provided, 
and  such  an  item  should  form  part  of  an  estimate 
blank  for  city  use.  In  the  estimate  blank  shown  in 
Fig.  33  all  the  various  items  likely  to  be  required, 
either  in  city  or  country  work,  are  included,  and  in 
making  up  an  estimate  blank  from  this  form  such 
items  as  will  not  be  required  in  that  locality  may  be 
omitted. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  the  various  fixture  com- 
binations are  given  complete.  This  simplifies  the 
estimate  blank  by  cutting  down  the  number  of  items 
and  reducing  the  possibility  of  error.  Once  the  cost 
of  a  combination,  together  with  its  trimmings,  has 
been  ascertained,  all  that  is  necessary  is  to  multiply 

90 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 


ESTIMATE  BLANK 

Estimate  No.  Date  _  
Architect  Ow 

ier 

Location  and  D 

escri  tion  of  Buildings 

-  

Data  Upon  Which  This  Estimate  is  Based  

Draw! 

Specifications  

Ootntltr 

SIZE 

DESCRIPTION 

MATEBUl* 

COST 

COST 

:::::::::: 

!!""z;™"!"~'!Z!"zz!; 

Water  Closets,  complete  »  .  ,  . 
Urinate,  complete    
Bath  Tabs,  complete  
Lavatories,  complete  
Shower  Baths,  complete    .  .  . 
Site  or  Foot  Baths,  complete    . 
Bidets,  complete  
Slop  Sinks,  complete   
Pantry  Sinks,  complete  .... 
Kitchen  Sinks,  complete    .  .  . 
Drinking  Fountains,  complete  . 
Hydrotherapeutic  Apparatus    . 
Swimming1  Pool,  complete  .   . 
Manicure  Table  and  Basins  .  . 
Operating  Table    .  .   .-....; 
Laundry  Trays,  complete  .  .  . 

~ 

E 

House  Tank    

Suction  Tank  

Hot-  Water  Tank   
Water  Heater    
Sewage  Ejectment  Apparatus  . 
Sewage  Purification  Plant  .... 
Soil  Pipe  and  Fittings  
Ferrules  
Cleanouts    
Calking  Lead    
Oakum     

Pipe  Hangers  and  Supports  .  . 
Wrought  Pipe  and  Fittings   .  . 
Drainage  Fittings    ...    ... 
Solder  Nipples   
Brass  Pipe  and  Fittings  .... 
Lead  Pipe   
Sheet  Lead 









Solder  
Valves  and  Cocks  ........ 
Permits  and  Taps  
Excavating    
Labor,  Plumber  and  Helper  .  . 
Carpenter  Work    
Mason  Work  
Gasoline  and  Oils  
Board  and  Carfare  
Incidentals  
Insurance  and  Guarantees     .  . 
Earthenware  Pipe  and  Cement 
Grease  Traps  
Stop-Cock  Boxes  and  Hydrants 
Water  Meters    
Filters  
Temperature  Regulators    .  .  . 
Pressure  Regulators    .-. 
Marble  or  Slate 

- 

Bath-Room  Trimmings   .... 
Freight  and  Drayage  
Boxing  and  Crating    
Lead  Bends    
Lead  Traps     

Operating  Expe 

nses                     Net  Cost  $ 

Profit  $                         F*timati> 

Submitted  $  

Fig.  33 

91 


Plumbing    Estimates    and    Contracts 

that  cost  by  the  number  of  fixtures.  When  the  vari- 
ous items  of  brackets,  legs,  cocks  and  wastes  are  esti- 
mated separately,  however,  there  is  a  tendency  to 
allow  only  one  cock  or  bracket  to  a  lavatory,  or  in  other 
ways  become  confused  and  make  an  error.  To  fur- 
ther simplify  the  blank  and  keep  down  size  to  that  of 
a  sheet  of  legal-cap  paper  a  number  of  items  are  only 
suggested.  For  instance,  instead  of  enumerating 
windmills,  hydraulic  rams  and  other  prime  movers 
for  pumping  water,  the  whole  list  is  summed  up  under 
the  item  "pumps."  It  is  obvious  that  in  estimating 
on  operations  where  the  specifications  call  for  a  wind- 
mill, the  intelligent  estimator  would  list  it  under  the 
item  of  pumps,  as  that  is  the  function  of  the  wind- 
mill. Likewise,  if  a  ram  were  to  be  used,  the  word 
pump  in  the  schedule  would  call  it  to  mind,  as  the 
means  of  moving  the  water,  and  the  ram  would  be 
properly  listed. 

In  the  same  way  water  heaters  of  whatever  type 
are  included  under  the  one  heading,  the  paragraph 
for  description  being  sufficient  to  describe  what  kind 
and  make  of  apparatus  is  required. 

Bath-room  fittings,  such  as  soap  cups,  sponge 
holders,  towel  racks,  mirrors,  tumbler  holders,  medi- 
cine cabinets  and  scales  are  all  included  under  the 
heading  "Bath-room  Trimmings,"  for  the  function 
of  an  estimate  blank  is  not  to  provide  an  itemized  list 
of  everything  entering  into  the  make-up  of  a  plumbing 
installation,  but  to  serve  as  a  memorandum  so  that 
no  important  item  of  cost  can  be  overlooked.  The 
blank  here  given  has  been  used  extensively  and  has 
given  perfect  satisfaction,  combining,  as  it  does,  sim- 
plicity with  thoroughness.  Conditions  differ  in  vari- 


Plumbing    Estimates     and     Contracts 

ous  parts  of  the  country,  however,  and  in  making 
up  a  list  each  contractor  can  alter  by  adding  to  or 
striking  out  any  items  he  may  see  fit. 

In  filling  out  the  blank  it  is  well  to  place  a  check 
mark  where  blank  spaces  come  in  the  cost  column, 
to  show  that  the  items  left  blank  have  been  considered 
and  are  not  wanted. 

In  order  to  show  the  method  of  using  the  estimate 
blanks  the  example,  or  illustration,  following  on  page 
94  is  appended  as  a  guide. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  columns  are  provided  on 
these  blanks  to  show  the  estimated  cost,  also  the 
actual  cost  of  materials  and  labor.  The  information 
gained  by  this  method  of  keeping  account  of  how  each 
item  estimated  on  actually  works  out  in  practice  is 
invaluable  to  a  careful  business  man.  As  previously 
stated,  profit  should  be  made  on  every  item  entering 
into  a  plumbing  installation  and  if  the  cost  column 
shows  that  the  actual  cost  was  greater  than  the  esti- 
mated cost  the  reason  should  be  immediately  ascer- 
tained and  means  adopted  to  prevent  a  repetition  of 
the  loss.  Sometimes  the  cost  of  materials  is  advanced 
between  the  time  of  estimating  or  signing  a  contract 
and  the  ordering  of  the  goods.  Such  a  lesson  should 
teach  the  contractor  the  wisdom  of  covering  his  con- 
tracts immediately  by  placing  orders  for  all  goods 
entering  into  the  work,  unless  there  should  be  a  falling 
market.  The  goods  can  be  ordered  for  future  delivery 
and  a  subsequent  raise  in  price  will  not  cause  a  loss 
to  the  contractor.  Oftentimes  a  loss  can  be  traced 
to  the  fact  that  the  latest  quotation  or  discount  was 
not  properly  entered  in  the  cost  book.  Here,  again 

93 


Plumbing    Estimates    and    Contracts 


88 


iO  O   O  iO        O   O 


3       °     'o     -U 

+>*o    ft;S 

6  s^  §p 


t~.  ^ 


«      - 
•  B.  J 


*s 

co  co  H  O 


94 


Plumbing    Estimates    and    Contracts 


SOIL  PIPE  AND  FITTINGS 


%,  \,  and  -iV  Bends 

Y  or  TY  Branches 

Traps 

Cleanouts 

Double  Y  or  TY  Fittings   .  .  .^.  .  . 

Crosses 

T  Fittings 

Offsets •>   .  .  , 

Increasers  ....:'....,... 

Special  Fittings 

Hooks  and  Hangers  .  ........... 

Reducers 

Vent  Tees 

Single  or  Double  Hubs   .  .   .....  -•. 

Return  Bends 

Vent  Caps 

BRASS  PIPE  AND  FITTINGS 
X     |     ti          X          1          IX        IX         2         2X         3 

Brass  Fittings,  Iron  Pipe  Sizes 
Brass  Tubing,  Iron  Pipe  Sizes  . 

BrassTubing,  Light 

Brass  .gittings.  Light |. 

COCKS  AND  VALVES 

DUMBER 

'  2K  |    3 

Globe  Valves 

Gate  Valves 

Stop  Cocks '  • .  •  • 

Stop  and  Waste  Cocks    .... 

Angle  Valves    ..,.'.... 

Check  Valves    .  .  ...  .   .  . 

Safety  Valves    .......  i 

RECESSED  DRAINAGE  FITTINGS  AND  PIPE 
NUI 
tllE  IN  mCHES      I    IX    |    IX    |     2     I    2X    I     3          4          5          6          7          8         10 

90°  Elbows 

45',  22J°.  Hi',and5|e 

Y  Branches 

Double  Y  Branches  .....  v   ... 

Double  TY  Fittings  . 

Three-way  Elbows  .  . 

TY  Branches ,  ........ 

Crosses 

Return  Bends    ........... 

Increasers  ....'..'....... 

Traps 

Wrought  Pipe'    . 

WATER  AND  VENT  FITTINGS 

NUMBER 
SIZE  IN  INCHES 

Wrought  Pipe 

Elbows  ......... 

Tees 

Crosses  .....:.  .  . 
Flange  Unions  ...'.. 
R.  and  L.  Couplings  .  . 

Unions ,,   .   .  . 

Plugs  and  Caps  .   • . . 


Fig.  34 

95 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

the  estimate  list  serves  as  a  check  and  points  out  the 
cause  of  loss,  so  a  repetition  can  be  avoided. 

On  the  face  side  of  the  estimate  blank  only  the 
total  number  of  lead  bends,  ferrules,  traps,  feet  of 
soil  pipe,  fittings  and  various  other  things  are  shown, 
but  on  the  reverse  side  of  the  estimate  blank,  as  shown 
in  Fig.  34,  are  tables  arranged  so  that  the  various 
quantities  of  different  sizes  of  pipe,  fittings,  valves, 
etc.,  may  be  jotted  down  to  complete  the  record. 

In  addition  to  the  table  of  materials  a  space  is 
provided  for  keeping  a  record  of  the  various  contrac- 
tors who  submitted  estimates  on  the  work,  the  amount 
of  each  bid,  the  contractor  to  whom  the  work  was 
awarded  and  any  remarks  which  would  throw  light 
on  the  award.  It  is  not  always  possible,  of  course, 
to  secure  a  record  of  competitor's  bids,  but  when 
such  information  is  obtainable  the  records  make 
splendid  data  for  use  in  future  estimating. 


96 


CHAPTER  IV 


CALCULATING  THE   COST 

m    m 

1ST  Price  on  Goods.— The  real  net 
prices  at  which  goods  are  sold  to  those 
regularly  engaged  in  the  plumbing  busi- 
ness are  never  or  seldom  stated  in  plumb- 
ing supply  catalogues.  Instead,  certain 
prices  are  quoted  which  are  much  higher  than  the  net 
prices,  sometimes  as  much  as  one  dollar  being  the  list 
on  materials  that  cost  less  than  fifteen  cents.  To  those 
regularly  engaged  in  the  plumbing  business  the  vari- 
ous supply  houses  furnish  discount  sheets  which  show 
exactly  how  much  may  be  deducted  from  the  list 
price  of  every  article  shown  or  enumerated  in  the 
catalogues.  These  discount  sheets,  or  quotations 
on  certain  things  such  as  soil  pipe  and  wrought  pipe, 
are  sent  out  from  time  to  time  by  the  supply  houses 
to  those  on  their  mailing  list,  so  that,  by  following 
them  up  closely,  the  contractor  can  keep  posted  at  all 
times  as  to  the  cost  of  materials.  There  are  two  rea- 
sons for  having  a  list  price  in  catalogues  and  using  a 
discount  sheet  to  ascertain  the  real  price.  In  the 
first  place,  if  a  catalogue  of  plumbing  supplies  falls 
into  the  hands  of  those  who  are  not  connected  with  the 

97 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contrac  t  s 

business  they  can  form  no  accurate  idea  from  the 
prices  listed  of  the  real  value  of  the  goods.  In  the 
second  place,  prices  are  constantly  fluctuating,  and 
if  the  net  prices  were  stated  in  the  various  catalogues 
the  moment  the  price  of  any  article  listed  in  the  cata- 
logue either  increased  or  decreased  in  value,  the  list 
price  would  be  valueless,  and  when  many  changes 
had  taken  place  a  new  catalogue  would  have  to  be 
compiled.  As  conditions  now  exist,  instead  of  alter- 
ing the  catalogue,  at  certain  intervals  a  new  discount 
sheet,  which  seldom  exceeds  eight  pages,  is  made  out 
and  sent  to  the  various  plumbers  on  the  mailing  list 
of  a  supply  house,  and  during  the  interim  between  the 
issuing  of  discount  sheet  letters  telling  of  changes  in 
price  are  regularly  sent  out  to  the  trade. 

An  example  of  a  discount  sheet  is  shown  in  Fig.  35. 

Trade  Discount. — Trade  discounts  are  reductions 
made  by  manufacturers  or  jobbers  to  those  regularly 
engaged  in  the  plumbing  business  from  the  prices 
listed  in  their  catalogues.  Discounts  are  computed 
by  the  rules  of  percentage,  the  list  price  of  goods  being 
the  base,  and  the  discount  the  rate.  When  several 
discounts  in  series  are  allowed  on  certain  goods — 
as,  for  instance,  when  a  discount  of  40,  10  and  5  is 
quoted  on  soil  pipe — the  first  discount,  that  is, 
40  per  cent.,  is  deducted  from  the  list  price;  the 
second  discount,  that  is,  10  per  cent.,  is  then  deducted 
from  the  remainder,  and  the  remainder  so  obtained 
is  again  lessened  by  subtracting  from  it  5  per  cent. 
For  instance,  if  a  discount  of  40,  10  and  5  be  allowed 
on  a  bill  of  soil  pipe,  the  list  price  of  which  amounts 
to  $100,  40  per  cent,  would  be  deducted  from  this 

98 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 


DISCOUNT  SHEET 

APPLYING  TO  CATALOG  "A" 

ATLAS  PLUMBING  SUPPLY  GO. 

APRIL  10,  1910 

Page 

Discription  of  Materials 

Discount 
Per  Cent 

1 
2-     8 
9 
10-  21 
22-  30 
31-  38 
39-  68 
69-  76 

77-  84 
85-  93 
94 
95-  96 
97-100 
101-106 
107 
108-112 
113-145 
146-152 
153-176 
177-200 
201-210 
211-222 
223-230 
231-253 
254-262 
263 

Cast  Iron  Soil  Pipe.                  

20-10 
20-10-5 

30 

30-7-2  * 
30-10-10 
40 

Prices  net 
15-5 
10-10-5 

25 

20-2  * 
15-10-10 
10 
20 
20-5 
30 
30-5-7| 
12* 
15 
10 
10-5-5 
15 

17* 
20 
30 
33* 
20 

Cast  Iron  Soil  Pipe  Fittings  

Wrought  Pipe 

Recessed  Drainage  Fittings...  

Malleable  Fittings  

Cast  Iron  Steam  and  Water  Fittings  

Pipe  Fitters'  Tools  

Brass   Globe  'and  Angle  Valves,    2''  and 
smaller 

Brass  Globe  and  Angle  Valves,  larger  than 
2" 

Railing  Fittings  

Brass  and  Copper  Pipe  and  Fittings.  
Galvanized  Range  Boilers 

Copper  Range  Boilers 

Compression  Brass  Goods 

Fuller  Brass  Goods 

Brass  Ferrules  and  Cleanduts 

Lead  Traps  and  Bends 

Porcelain  Enameled  Baths 

Porcelain  Baths 

Closet  Combinations 

Lavatories    . 

Porcelain  Enameled  Wash  Trays  
Porcelain  Wash  Trays 

Slate  and  Soapstone  Laundry  Trays 

Porcelain  Enameled  Sinks 

Porcelain  Sinks 

Plain  and  Galvanized  Black  Iron  Sinks.... 

NOTE—  This  discount  sheet  supersedes  all  previous  issues. 
All  lists,  discounts  and  questions  are  subject  to  change  without 
notice.    We  will  endeavor,  however,  from  time  to  time,  to  advise 
our  customers  of  variations  in  prices. 
TERMS-Net  cash  30  days,  2  per  cent,  discount  10  days. 
Boxing,  crating  and  packages  will  be  charged  at  manufacturers' 
rates. 

Fig.  35 
99 

Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

amount,  leaving  a  balance  of  $60.  From  this  bal- 
ance 10  per  cent.,  or  $6,  would  be  deducted,  leaving  a 
balance  of  $54,  and  5  per  cent,  taken  from  $54  would 
leave  a  net  price  for  the  goods  of  $51.30.  Instead, 
however,  of  deducting  the  three  separate  discounts 
the  equivalent  of  the  three  can  be  ascertained  and  the 
equivalent  discount  deducted  from  the  base.  For 
instance,  the  equivalent  of  40,  10  and  5  is  .4870  and 
100  x. 4870  =  $48.70,  which  subtracted  from  $100 
leaves  $51.30. 

Instead  of  finding  the  discount  on  a  purchase, 
then  subtracting  the  discount  from  the  list  price,  a 
quicker  and  easier  way  is  to  find  the  percentage  re- 
maining after  the  discount  has  been  deducted  and 
multiply  the  list  price  by  the  remaining  percentage. 
The  remaining  percentage  is  always  found  by  sub- 
tracting the  rate  or  discount  from  100. 

For  example,  if  the  cost  of  a  bill  of  soil  pipe  listed 
at  $100  and  subject  to  a  discount  of  40  per  cent,  be 
desired,  find  the  remaining  percentage  by  subtracting 
40  from  100  =  60,  and  multiply  this  by  the  list  cost, 
$100.  Thus,  $100  x  .60  =  $60  =  net  cost  of  pipe. 

In  Table  XXII  will  be  found  the  equivalent  dis- 
counts of  well-known  and  much-used  series.  In  this 
table  not  only  the  equivalent  discount  of  the  series 
is  given  but  also  the  figures  by  which  to  multiply  to 
find  the  net  cost  of  a  bill  of  goods.  For  instance, 
if  a  bill  of  goods  listed  at  $100  were  subject  to  a  dis- 
count of  40,  10  and  5,  we  have  seen  that  the  net  cost 
of  the  goods  would  be  $51.30.  If  you  now  multiply 
$100  by  the  factor  .513  given  in  the  table,  you 
will  see  that  the  same  net  cost  is  obtained.  The 

100 


Plumbing    Estimates     and     Contracts 


table  will  be  found  very  convenient  when  figuring 
discounts. 

Series  of  discounts  not  found  in  the  following 
table  can  be  reduced  to  their  equivalents  by  the  fol- 
lowing rule: 

TABLE   XXII 
EQUIVALENT  DISCOUNTS  OF  MUCH-USED  SERIES 


10 
15 
20 
20 
25 
125 
25, 
:;*) 
80 
80, 
35 
35 
35, 
40 
40 
40 
45 
45 
45, 
50 
50 
50, 
65 
55 
55, 
60 
60 
GO, 
65 
65 
65, 
70 
70 
70, 

H), 
10, 

10, 

10, 
10, 
10, 
10, 
10, 
10, 
10, 

and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 
and 

5  equals  14^% 
5  equals  19}% 
5  equals  24% 
10  equals  28% 
5  equals  28  j% 
10  equals  32  \% 
5  equals  35£% 
5  equals  33^% 
10  equals  37% 
5  equals  40}% 
5  equals  38  \% 
10  equals  41-£% 
5  equals  444% 
5  equals  43% 
10  equals  46% 
5  equals  48T7jj% 
5  equals  47  f% 
10  equals  50^% 
5  equals  52$$% 
5  equals  52^% 
10  equals  55% 
5  equals  59i% 
5  equals  57  i  % 
10  equals  59i% 
5  equals  61^% 
5  equals  62% 
10  equals  64% 
5  equals  65*% 
5  equals  66^% 
10  equals  68*% 
5  equals  70^  % 
5  equals  71£% 
10  equals  73% 
5  equals  74275% 

off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 
off  list  price  multiplied  by 

.855 
.807 
.76 
.72 
.7125 
.675 
.642 
.665 
.63 
.5986 
.6175 
.585 
.556 
.57 
.54 
.513 
.5225 
.495 
.47 
.475 
.45 
.4075 
.4275 
.405 
.385 
.38 
.36 
.3428 
.3325 
.315 
.293 
.285 
.27 
.2565 

=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=^iet  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 
=  net  cost  of  goods 

RULE: — To  reduce  a  discount  series  to  an  equiva- 
lent single  discount,  subtract  each  rate  of  discount 
from  1,  and  multiply  the  remainders  together.  Sub- 
tract the  product  from  1  and  the  remainder  will  be 
the  single  discount. 

101 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

EXAMPLE. — What  single  discount  on  the  gross 
price  is  equivalent  to  a  discount  series  of  60  per  cent., 
20  per  cent,  and  10  per  cent.? 

SOLUTION.— 1  -  .60  =  .40;  1  -  .20  =  .80;  1  -  .10  = 
.90;  .40  x  .80  x  .90  =  .288;  1  -  .288  =  .712,  or  71  per 
cent. 

It  might  be  well  to  point  out  here  that  there  is  a 
difference  between  the  amounts  of  discounts  expressed 
for  instance,  on  the  one  hand,  as  40  and  10  and  on  the 
other  as  50.  For  example,  a  $100  bill  of  goods  sub- 
ject to  a  discount  of  50  per  cent,  would  net  $50,  while 
the  same  bill  of  goods  subject  to  a  discount  of  40  and 
10  per  cent,  would  cost  $54.  It  will  be  seen,  there- 
fore, that  the  total  discount  of  a  series  is  always  less 
than  the  total  discount  of  the  sum  of  all  the  dis- 
counts in  a  series  would  be. 

Boxing,  Grating  and  Cartage. — An  item  which 
must  not  be  overlooked  by  the  estimator  when  taking 
off  his  items  or  making  up  the  quantities,  is  the  charge 
made  for  boxing  and  crating  goods  for  shipment. 
The  prices  charged  for  goods,  as  listed  in  catalogues, 
unless  otherwise  stated,  are  for  the  goods  only  in  the 
warehouse  of  the  jobber  or  manufacturer  quoting  the 
price.  Before  the  goods  can  be  shipped,  however, 
they  generally  must  be  crated  or  boxed,  and  perhaps 
carted  to  the  freight  station. 

The  materials  and  labor  for  this  work  is  charged 
for  extra,  in  addition  to  the  price  of  the  goods,  and 
must  be  estimated  on  or  the  goods  will  sometimes  be 
sold  at  a  loss.  Generally,  a  list  of  conditions  is  printed 
in  the  catalogue  of  every  supply  house,  stating  under 
just  what  terms  the  goods  are  sold.  Among  these 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

conditions  will  generally  be  found  a  paragraph  some 
thing  like  the  following: 

Boxing  and  Cartage. — All  boxing  and  crating 
is  charged  by  us  at  cost.  If  packages  are  re- 
turned to  us  in  good  order,  we  will  credit  them, 
less  freight  and  other  expenses. 

Cartage  will  likewise  be  charged. 

In  addition  to  the  charges  for  boxing,  crating  and 
drayage,  made  by  the  supply  houses,  the  estimator 
might  have  other  similar  charges  to  make  on  his  own 
end  of  the  line.  If  a  delivery  wagon  is  kept  by  the 
contractor  and  the  cost  of  horse,  wagon  and  driver  is 
included  in  the  overhead  expenses,  no  charge  need  be 
made  in  the  estimate  sheet  for  that  service.  If,  how- 
ever, extra  outside  help  must  be  employed  to  do 
carting,  that  item  should  be  entered  on  the  estimate 
blank.  In  the  case  of  boxing  and  crating,  sometimes 
goods  are  sold  out  of  stock  and  must  be  boxed  or 
crated  for  shipment.  In  such  cases,  of  course,  a 
charge  for  that  service  is  proper. 

One  bad  feature  of  the  charges  for  boxing  and 
crating  lies  in  the  fact  that  there  is  no  way  for  the 
contractor  or  estimator  to  know  beforehand  how 
much  the  charges  will  be;  therefore,  it  is  a  difficult 
item  to  estimate  on.  Similar  bills  of  goods  sent  out 
at  different  times  from  the  same  supply  house,  or 
sent  out  at  the  same  time  by  different  supply  houses, 
will  have  various  charges  for  boxing,  no  two  of  which 
are  exactly  alike.  It  would  seem  that  if  some  system 
of  charges  were  adopted,  based  on  a  percentage  of  the 
cost  and  according  to  the  class  of  the  ware,  it  would 
be  better  for  the  plumbers,  even  though  the  cost 

103 


Plumbing    Estimates    and    Contracts 

would  be  greater,  for  the  contractor  would  then  have 
some  data  on  which  to  base  his  costs  for  this  part  of 
the  estimate. 

Terms  of  Sale  of  Goods.— As  previously  stated,  a 
list  of  conditions  is  usually  printed  in  every  catalogue, 
stating  under  what  terms  the  goods  are  sold.  The 
plumber  should  familiarize  himself  with  these  terms 
so  he  will  know  just  what  to  expect  under  all  condi- 
tions. The  terms,  while  perhaps  expressed  differ- 
ently in  each  catalogue,  amount  to  about  the  same 
in  all,  and  the  following  conditions,  compiled  from 
several  catalogues,  will  serve  as  a  model. 

CONDITIONS 

Catalogues  and  Prices. — This  catalogue  supersedes  all 
previous  editions;  and  all  former  lists,  plate  numbers,  illus- 
trations, discounts  and  quotations  are  hereby  withdrawn. 
All  prices  herein  quoted  are  subject  to  change  without  notice. 

Orders  and  Deliveries. — All  orders  will  be  filled  as  soon 
as  possible,  but  deliveries  are  contingent  upon  strikes,  lock- 
outs, accidents  and  other  causes  beyond  our  control.  We 
will  not  be  responsible  for  delay,  or  damage  arising  from  delay, 
caused  by  such  agencies. 

Boxing  and  Crating. — Unless  otherwise  quoted  on  special 
orders,  all  boxing,  crating  and  cartage  will  be  charged  by  us 
at  cost.  If  packages  and  crates  are  returned  to  us  in  good 
order  we  will  credit  them,  less  freight  and  all  other  expenses. 

Packing  and  Routes. — Definite  instruction  as  to  mode  of 
packing  and  by  what  route  to  ship,  should  be  given  with  each 
order.  When  no  special  instructions  are  given,  goods  will  be 
packed  and  shipped  in  the  manner  we  deem  most  suitable. 

Responsibility  Regarding  Shipments. — All  goods  are  care- 
fully packed  and  examined  by  experienced  shippers  to  insure 
nothing  but  merchantable  goods  being  sent  out  and  we  take 
every  reasonable  precaution  against  breakage  in  transit. 

104 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

Our  responsibility  ceases,  therefore,  upon  delivery  of  the 
goods  in  good  condition  to  the  transportation  company  at 
the  dock  or  railroad  station.  If  the  carriers  insist  upon  us 
signing  a  release  or  other  document  having  reference  to  their 
reliability  before  they  receive  the  goods,  of  course  we  must 
comply;  that  will  not,  however  affect  the  right  of  the  party 
to  whom  they  are  consigned  (who  is  deemed  to  be  the  real 
owner) ,  to  recover  damages  for  any  carelessness  or  neglect  on 
the  part  of  the  carriers ;  but  it  should  be  distinctly  understood 
that  we,  as  senders,  have  no  legal  claim,  after  the  goods  are 
delivered  to  the  carriers  properly  consigned,  as  the  owner- 
ship has  then  passed  from  us  to  the  purchaser. 

Caution  When  Receiving  Goods. — Before  accepting  goods 
from  a  transportation  company,  the  purchaser  should  see 
that  he  gets  each  and  every  article  called  for  in  the  bill  of 
lading,  and  if  shortage  is  shown  should  not  receive  the  goods 
until  the  freight  agent  notes  the  shortage  in  writing  on  the 
freight  bill,  and  signs  it.  In  like  manner,  if  the  goods  arrive 
in  a  damaged  condition,  the  owner  must  not  accept  them 
until  the  freight  agent  notes  the  damage  and  the  nature 
of  the  damage  on  the  freight  bill  over  his  signature. 

All  goods  leave  our  hands  in  good  condition  and  if  the 
purchaser  accepts  the  shipment  from  the  transportation 
company  short  of  what  is  enumerated  in  the  bill  of  lading 
or  shipping  receipt,  or  in  a  damaged  condition,  without  taking 
the  aforementioned  precautions,  the  purchaser  or  consignee 
does  so  at  his  own  risk. 

Insurance. — When  requested  to  do  so,  we  procure  insur- 
ance against  marine  risk  on  ocean  shipments,  or  part  rail  and 
part  water.  We  likewise  can  place  insurance  against  break- 
age if  the  purchaser  will  make  request  therefor,  with  each 
order.  By  insuring  against  breakage  the  purchaser  will  be  re- 
imbursed for  the  loss  in  due  course  as  the  documents  of  facts 
supporting  claim  are  sent  to  us  and  presented  to  the  insurance 
company. 

The  purchaser  is  obliged,  however,  to  use  the  same  pre- 
caution as  mentioned  under  the  heading  "CAUTION  WHEN 
RECEIVING  GOODS"  ;  get  the  freight  agent  to  note  any  damage 
or  breakage,  if  such  is  apparent,  on  the  freight  bill,  also, 

105 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

when  the  purchaser  unpacks  the  goods,  which  should  be  done 
at  once,  if  he  finds  any  breakage,  he  must  immediately  notify 
one  of  the  insurance  company's  agents,  who  will  then  inspect 
the  goods  and  ascertain  the  damage.  The  rate  charged  is 
according  to  the  kind  of  goods,  the  distance,  whether  by  water 
or  part  water  and  rail,  and  range  from  one  to  one  and  one-half 
per  cent  for  domestic  and  three  or  five  per  cent  for  foreign 
shipments. 

Claims  for  Shortage. — All  goods  are  packed  by  experi- 
enced and  careful  packers,  being  double  checked,  and  every 
precaution  is  taken  to  prevent  errors.  Furthermore,  a 
packer's  list  of  contents  of  each  package  is  enclosed  with  the 
goods  or  mailed  to  the  purchaser  direct  from  the  shipping 
department. 

No  general  claims  for  shortage  or  errors  will  be  considered 
unless  they  are  made  within  ten  days  from  the  receipt  of 
goods.  If  any  shortage  or  errors  are  found,  such  must  be 
reported  to  us  at  once,  stating  what  items  are  missing  and  from 
what  package.  It  has  often  occurred  that  we  were  charged 
with  failing  to  have  sent  certain  articles,  when  it  was  after- 
wards shown  that  such  items  had  actually  been  shipped  and 
that  they  had  been  overlooked  when  unpacking  and  were 
afterward  found. 

Claims  for  Defective  Materials.— Brass  and  other  metal 
goods  are  carefully  inspected,  but  it  is  not  always  possible 
to  detect  imperfections  in  castings.  Our  guarantee  is  limited 
to  the  replacing  with  sound  goods  any  that  prove  defective . 

We  are  not  responsible  for  damages  beyond  the  price 
as  charged  and  for  no  consequential  expense  or  damage. 

Returned  Goods. — Goods  cannot  be  returned  to  us  with- 
out written  consent.  Any  goods  returned  to  us  without 
our  consent  will  not  be  credited  the  sender. 

Countermanding  Orders. —  Once  an  order  has  been  re- 
ceived, we  will  not  acknowledge  a  countermand,  unless  we 
have  been  consulted  in  the  matter  and  our  permission  ob- 
tained to  said  cancellation.  Under  no  consideration  can  we 
accept  a  cancellation  when  goods  are  special  or  in  course  of 
preparation. 

106 


Plumbing    Estimates    and    Contracts 

Freight  and  Drayage. — Prices  on  goods  are  some- 
times quoted  F.  O.  B.  factory  or  supply  house.  By 
F.  O.  B.  or  f.  o.  b.  is  meant  free  on  board  or  freight 
on  board.  That  is,  the  seller  of  the  goods  will  deliver 
them  at  the  receiving  station  of  the  transportation 
company  for  the  price  agreed  upon  and  free  of  all 
charges  for  boxing,  carting  or  other  like  expenses. 
When  the  goods  are  not  quoted  F.  O.  B.  however, 
boxing,  crating  and  carting  charges  must  be  expected. 

But  with  the  goods  delivered  free  on  board,  the 
estimator  still  has  his  freight  bill  to  reckon,  for  he 
cannot  fill  out  that  item  of  expense  without  first 
ascertaining  what  the  freight  bill  will  amount  to. 
No  costs  for  shipping  freight  can  be  given  here  for 
the  reason  that  the  charges  differ  according  to  whether 
the  haul  is  long  or  short,  by  water  or  rail,  and  what 
is  equally  important,  according  to  the  classification 
of  the  goods.  In  the  carrying  of  freight  the  bulki- 
ness  of  the  goods  has  to  be  taken  into  consideration 
for  the  bulkier  goods  are,  according  to  weight,  the 
less  can  be  carried  in  a  car.  For  example,  an  ordinary 
freight  car  is  limited  in  capacity  to  about  20  tons 
weight.  If  the  goods  to  be  shipped  are  pig  lead,  cast 
iron  pipe,  pig  iron,  lead  pipe,  wrought  pipe  or  other 
like  heavy  but  condensed  materials,  a  freight  car  can 
carry  its  maximum  load.  If,  however,  it  is  oakum 
that  is  to  be  shipped,  or  crated  bathtubs,  the  car 
would  be  filled  before  it  contained  a  quarter  of  the 
weight  it  was  capable  of  carrying.  It  stands  to  rea- 
son, therefore,  that  bath  tubs  or  oakum  could  not  be 
carried  for  as  low  a  rate  as  could  pig  iron.  Again, 
the  risk  run  by  the  transportation  company  has  to  be 
considered  in  classifying  goods,  for,  as  they  as  com- 

107 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 


mon  carriers  are  insurers  of  the  goods  they  transport 
and  there  is  greater  risk  in  carrying  bath  tubs  than 
pig  iron,  they  must,  naturally  charge  more  for  that 
class  of  goods.  Transportation  companies  have 
printed  schedules  of  rates  and  classification  of  goods 
showing  just  what  the  rate  on  each  kind  of  article 
will  be  to  any  point. 

Knowing  this,  the  estimator  has  the  key  to  the 
freight  item  of  cost.  Every  plumber  should  have  a 
list,  compiled  from  the  railroad  company's  schedule, 
showing  just  what  classification  each  item  entering 
into  his  business  belongs  in  and  the  rate  per  hundred 
pounds  for  each  class,  from  the  point  where  his  sup- 
plies are  purchased,  to  his  home  town.  Such  a  list 
could  be  made  up  something  like  the  following : 


CLASS  A 

CLASS  B 

30  cents  per  100  weight, 
New  York  to  Beverly 

22  cents  per  100  weight, 
New  York  to  Beverly 

BATH  TUBS 
LAVATORIES 
WATER  CLOSETS 
SLOP  SINKS 
URINALS 
GAS  FIXTURES 

CEMENT    LAUNDRY    TRAYS 
SOAPSTONE  LAUNDRY  TRAYS 
SLATE  LAUNDRY  TRAYS 
MARBLE 
STRUCTURAL  GLASS 
SLATE 

CLASS  C 

CLASS  D 

18  cents  per  100  weight, 
New  York  to  Beverly 

12  cents  per  100  weight, 
New  York  to  Beverly 

SOIL  PIPE 
SOIL  FITTINGS 
STEAM  FITTINGS 
SEWER  PIPE 
VALVES 
WROUGHT  PIPE 

PIG  LEAD 
LEAD  PIPE 
SOLDER 
SHEET  LEAD 
CEMENT 
CAST  IRON   BOILERS 

108 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

The  foregoing  is  printed  merely  as  a  suggestion 
to  show  the  estimator  a  simple  way  to  calculate  the 
cost  of  freights.  The  class,  rate  and  items  in  the  vari- 
ous columns  are  purely  imaginary  and  not  to  be  de- 
pended upon.  What  the  contractor  should  do  is 
have  a  list  compiled  and  verified  by  the  local  freight 
agent,  then  he  is  ready  for  figuring  freight  bills.  For 
instance,  suppose  he  is  ordering  300  feet  of  6  inch 
extra  heavy  soil  pipe;  400  feet  of  5  inch;  500  feet  of 
4  inch  and  800  feet  of  3  inch.  From  the  table  of  soil 
pipe  he  will  find  that  6  inch  weighs  20  pounds ;  5  inch 
17  pounds;  4  inch  13  pounds,  and  3  inch  9i  pounds 
per  lineal  foot.  Multiplying  the  various  sizes  by  the 
weights,  then  adding  the  product  he  would  find  the 
sum  of  all  the  weights  to  be  26,900  pounds,  and  at  18 
cents  per  hundred  pounds,  the  rate  of  Class  C  to  which 
soil  pipe  belongs,  the  freight  would  cost  him  forty- 
eight  dollars  and  forty -two  cents. 

Some  catalogues  give  the  approximate  weights 
when  boxed  or  crated,  of  all  the  fixtures  listed.  It 
would  be  a  great  convenience  if  all  catalogues  fur- 
nished the  same  information.  When,  however,  they 
do  not,  the  information  can  "be  had  by  writing  to  the 
manufacturers ;  while  the  contractor  can  soon  compile 
a  lot  of  useful  information  for  himself  by  noting  the 
weights  of  different  fixtures  sent  him,  also  the  charges 
for  boxing  and  crating,  then  form  averages  from  them 
which  he  can  use  in  calculating  the  weight  of  freight 
to  be  estimated  on  and  the  probable  charge  for  box- 
ing, packing  and  carting. 

Another  fact  for  the  contractor  to  bear  in  mind 
is  that  the  discount  quoted  by  the  supply  house 
does  not  represent  the  plumbers'  profit  on  the 

109 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

goods.  Indeed,  it  is  much  smaller,  as  the  following 
will  show:  If  40  per  cent,  discount  is  given  on  a 
bill  of  goods,  the  plumber  would  get  40  cents  off 
each  dollar's  purchase  and  pay  60  cents  net.  But 
if  he  sells  that  purchase  again  at  the  list  price,  he 
makes  a  profit  of  60  X  1.68  =  1.00,  or  68  per  cent, 
on  the  transaction,  because  in  this  case  the  40  cents 
taken  off  a  dollar  base  is  added  to  a  60  cent  base. 

Computing  the  Cost  of  Wages. — For  convenience 
in  estimating  and  making  out  payrolls  Tables  XXIII 
and  XXIV  are  here  introduced.  These  tables  show  the 
amount  of  wages  to  be  paid  per  day,  or  week  at  eight, 
nine  and  ten  hours  per  day  when  the  scale  or  rate 
of  wages  are  from  50  cents  to  $5  per  day,  and  are  from 
$3  to  $20  per  week. 

Checking  Plumbing  Estimates. — No  bid  for 

plumbing  work  should  ever  be  submitted  without  first 
checking  up  the  estimate  by  some  empirical  rule  to 
see  if  the  amount  figured  is  about  what  it  should  be. 
When  a  contractor  has  estimated  and  installed  a 
number  of  operations  similar  in  character — as,  for 
instance,  the  work  in  apartment  houses — he  knows 
from  his  experience  about  what  a  like  installation 
should  amount  to,  and  ought  to  tell  offhand  whether 
his  estimate  is  right  or  wrong;  but  even  under  such 
conditions  it  is  safer  to  check  up  the  work  by  some 
simple  method,  such  as  given  for  checking  labor  by 
the  day-per-fixture  rule. 

A  simple  method  is  to  determine  approximately 
what  the  labor  and  material  per  fixture  will  amount 
to,  then  multiply  the  number  of  fixtures  in  the  build- 
ing by  that  price.  The  product  should  agree  approx- 

110 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 


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Ill 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

imately  with  the  estimate  as  calculated ;  if  it  does  not, 
the  estimator  should  go  very  carefully  over  his  figures 
and  items  to  see  where  the  discrepancy  lies.  After 
estimating  and  installing  a  number  of  operations  a 
contractor,  by  averaging  the  price  per  fixture  he  re- 
ceived for  the  various  classes  of  buildings  will  arrive 
at  the  approximate  costs  per  fixture,  which  he  can 
then  use  as  checks  on  similar  buildings,  until  changes 
in  the  prices  of  materials  force  other  factors  to  be 
determined.  It  is  a  very  simple  matter  to  determine 
the  approximate  cost  per  fixture.  For  instance,  if  an 
apartment  house  of  forty  bath  rooms  and  kitchens 
were  to  be  estimated  upon,  and  the  class  of  goods 
used  were  to  be  such  that  the  kitchen  sinks  cost  $3 
each,  the  laundry  trays  $20  per  set,  the  water  closet 
$25,  bath  tub  $36,  lavatory  $20,  and  if  two  days  were 
allowed  per  fixture  for  the  labor,  roughing-in  and 
finishing,  labor  for  plumber  and  helper  costing  $5  per 
day,  while  the  soil  pipe,  lead  pipe,  wrought  pipe, 
cocks,  valves  and  other  materials  averaged  about  $5 
per  fixture — then  the  six  fixtures  in  bath  room  and 
kitchen,  there  being  two  laundry  trays  and  each  com- 
partment representing  a  fixture,  would  average  $33.16 
each.  Knowing  the  cost  per  fixture  and  the  number 
of  fixtures  in  the  building,  which  would  be  6x40  =  240, 
the  cost  of  the  operation  could  be  approximately 
determined  by  multiplying  240  by  $33. 16  =  $7,958.40. 
If  the  cost  of  the  operation,  as  determined  by  the 
itemized  estimate,  were  to  run  several  hundred  dollars 
either  above  or  below  this  approximate  cost,  the 
estimator  should  satisfy  himself  that  no  mistake 
has  been  made  in  his  qualities  or  calculations. 

112 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 


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113 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

Cost  Book. — The  plumbing  contractor  should 
keep  a  cost  book,  properly  indexed,  in  which  to  note 
the  latest  quotations  on  materials  received  by  him. 
Plumbing  supply  houses  send  out  from  time  to  time 
new  discount  sheets,  letters  telling  of  changes  in 
discount  from  the  last  quoted,  and  notices  that  new 
fixtures  or  goods  have  been  added  to  the  line  carried, 
or  that  the  manufacture  of  some  fixture  listed  has 
been  discontinued;  as  soon  as  these  various  notices 
are  received  they  should  be  immediately  noted  in 
their  proper  places.  If  the  manufacture  of  certain 
goods  is  discontinued,  that  information  should  be 
posted  in  the  catalogue  where  the  goods  are  illustrated 
and  described.  If  new  fixtures  are  added  to  a  manu- 
facturer's line  the  illustrations  and  descriptions  should 
be  entered  in  the  catalogue  and  properly  indexed  so 
that  they  can  be  easily  located.  Should  the  list  price 
on  any  goods  be  altered  the  list  price  in  the  catalogue 
should  be  changed  to  conform  to  the  new  quotation. 
If  these  precautions  are  not  taken  the  contractor  will 
find  to  his  cost  that  he  is  estimating  on  old  prices, 
and  either  failing  to  secure  the  work  or  contracting 
for  it  at  a  loss,  according  to  the  condition  of  the  market 
since  he  last  corrected  his  catalogues.  Again,  he 
might  be  estimating  on  fixtures  which  are  no  longer 
made,  or,  when  limited  for  time,  guessing  at  the  cost 
of  some  new  fixture  he  knows  nothing  of  because  he 
has  not  properly  entered  it  in  its  proper  catalogue. 

The  cost  book  is  solely  for  the  purpose  of  keeping 
account  of  the  latest  discounts  quoted,  which  should 
be  entered  as  soon  as  received.  Putting  off  until 
some  future  time  is  liable  to  be  putting  off  forever, 
and  depending  on  memory  is  extremely  uncertain. 

114 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts     . 

The  list  and  discount  on  stock  goods,  such  as  soil 
pipe  and  fittings  and  wrought  pipe  and  fittings,  should 
be  carried  in  mind,  but  never  depended  upon  when 
estimating  a  large  operation. 

Oftentimes,  while  inspecting  the  work  in  a  new 
installation,  the  contractor  is  called  upon  to  quote  a 
price  on  an  extra  sink,  water  closet  or  lavatory,  and 
if  he  has  the  cost  of  all  material  required  in  his 
mind,  or  a  memorandum  of  prices  in  a  pocketbook, 
he  can  quote  a  price  on  the  spot  and  probably  close 
the  order  immediately,  while  if  time  were  required 
to  look  up  prices,  the  owner  might  change  his  mind. 

Getting  Jobbers'  Prices  on  Lists  of  Goods. — 

When  figuring  on  a  large  installation  containing  a 
great  many  fixtures  and  correspondingly  large  quan- 
tities of  pipe  fittings  and  brass  goods,  the  plumber 
will  find  that  he  can  get  a  much  better  price  on  the 
goods  by  making  out  a  complete  list  of  everything 
that  will  be  required  and  submitting  it  to  a  couple 
of  jobbing  houses  for  a  price.  In  compiling  a  dis- 
count sheet,  the  supply  houses  have  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  fact  that  most  of  the  orders  sent  in 
will  be  small  ones,  two  or  three  fixtures  at  a  time,  a 
dozen  or  so  faucets,  and  other  materials  in  propor- 
tion; consequently,  the  prices  quoted  in  the  discount 
are  based  on  such  quantities.  When  therefore  a 
large  order  is  under  consideration,  the  supply  houses 
can  shade  their  prices,  just  as  the  plumbing  con- 
tractor will  figure  a  lower  percentage  of  profit  for  in- 
stalling the  work  in  a  ten  thousand  dollar  contract  than 
he  would  in  an  ordinary  dwelling  where  the  contract 
price  did  not  run  over  three  hundred  dollars.  Fur- 

115 


Plumbing     Estimates    and     Contracts 

ther,  when  the  order  for  certain  supplies  such  as  fix- 
tures and  specialties  is  an  unusually  large  one,  the 
jobbers  will  submit  a  list  of  the  goods  to  the  several 
manufacturers  from  which  they  purchase,  and  as  the 
principle  of  quoting  a  better  price  on  large  orders 
than  on  small  ones  holds  good  all  along  the  line,  the 
jobbers  will  get  a  better  price  from  the  manufac- 
turers, consequently  can  quote  a  better  one  to  the 
plumber. 

This  principle  of  buying  in  large  quantities  holds 
true  when  located  remote  from  supply  houses 
and  carrying  goods  in  stock,  by  making  out  a  list  of 
all  the  goods  likely  to  be  needed  in  a  year  or  six 
months,  and  ordering  them  at  one  time  after  first 
having  received  prices  from  the  jobbers,  the  plumber 
who  can  afford  to  do  so  will  save  considerable  in  the 
cost,  in  freight,  drayage  and  in  handling.  The  cau- 
tion might  well  be  sounded  again,  though,  that  unless 
the  plumber  can  afford  to  buy  in  large  quantities,  and 
allow  his  money  to  be  tied  up  in  stock,  it  is  better  not 
to  do  so.  A  well  selected  stock  of  smaller  size  will 
serve  his  purpose  just  as  well,  and  leave  him  his  in- 
vested capital  as  real  working  capital,  when  it  is 
most  needed. 


116 


PART 

II 

CONTRACTS 


CHAPTER  V 


BUSINESS   OF   CONTRACTING 

TARTING  in  Business.— It  is  the  am- 

bition  of  a  large  percentage  of  the 
journeymen  plumbers  to  engage  in  busi- 
ness for  themselves,  but  most  of  them 
are  unfortunate  in  possessing  no  business 
training  or  experience.  For  their  benefit  some  of  the 
principles  underlying  the  successful  conduct  of  a  busi  • 
ness  are  here  given. 

The  first  qualification  for  a  successful  business 
career  is  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  plumbing  busi- 
ness. It  is  not  so  necessary  to  be  a  good  workman, 
for  the  contractor  will  not  be  called  upon  to  install 
the  work  he  contracts  for.  He  should,  though,  be 
well  versed  in  the  principles  and  practice  of  the  call- 
ing, so  he  will  be  quite  capable  of  intelligently  esti- 
mating on  and  laying  out  the  work  for  his  journeymen 
to  install.  The  theoretical  part  of  plumbing  can  be 

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Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

acquired  by  a  thorough  study  of  the  subject,  and  there 
are  plenty  of  good  books  on  the  market,  so  the  pros- 
pective business  man  can  teach  himself  with  their 
aid  No  one  book  should  be  considered  sufficient 
for  the  student,  but  he  should  read  everything  printed 
pertaining  to  his  calling,  so  he  will  know  the  views  of 
the  conflicting  authorities.  The  main  thing  to  im- 
press on  his  mind  is  that  he  should  study,  and  through 
study  make  himself  proficient  in  his  calling. 

Not  only  should  the  young  business  man  have  a 
good  library  of  plumbing  books,  but  he  will  find  it 
to  his  business  interest  to  subscribe  for  one  or  more 
of  the  trade  papers.  New  fittings,  fixtures  and  de- 
vices are  constantly  being  put  on  the  market,  and  as 
soon  as  they  are  offered  to  the  trade  the  devices  are 
advertised  in  the  trade  papers.  In  addition  to  this, 
most  of  the  manufacturers  of  plumbers'  specialties 
list  and  illustrate  their  goods  there,  so  that  trade 
papers  are  almost  as  good  as  a  plumbing  supply  di- 
rectory. Furthermore,  the  papers  contain  in  each 
issue  one  or  more  technical  articles  which  will  repay 
the  reading. 

When  fully  proficient  in  the  technical  branch  of 
the  calling  it  would  be  decidedly  to  the  student's 
interest  to  take  a  night  course  in  some  good  business 
college,  taking  up  bookkeeping,  commercial  law  and 
business  forms.  One  winter  of  close  application  will 
qualify  him  sufficiently  so  he  can  keep  a  fair  set  of 
books  and  will  not  be  wholly  ignorant  of  business 
usages.  It  is  necessary  for  the  successful  conducting 
of  a  business  that  a  set  of  books  be  kept,  for  without 
it  no  business  man  can  tell  how  he  stands  with  rela- 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

tion  to  his  business,  nor  can  he  tell  where  his  business 
leaks. 

In  addition  to  these  facts,  the  bankruptcy  laws  of 
the  United  States  require  that  books  be  kept,  showing 
all  the  petitioner's  business  transactions,  if  he  is  to  be 
extended  the  privilege  of  the  bankruptcy  laws ;  and, 
while  the  young  business  man  does  not  look  forward 
to  an  unsuccessful  business  career  ending  in  the 
bankruptcy  court,  still  he  must  be  prepared  for  that 
emergency  should  it  arise. 

If  he  does  not  take  a  course  in  a  business  college, 
either  for  lack  of  time  or  for  other  reasons,  he  should, 
at  least,  provide  himself  with  a  copy  of  "Bookkeep- 
ing for  the  Plumber,"  by  George  W.  Ryan,  and 
study  as  well  as  apply  the  text. 

In  the  new  venture  the  journeyman  plumber  is 
about  to  lay  down  the  tools  of  trade  and  enter  into 
a  new  calling — that  of  a  business  man — where  he 
will  be  pitted  against  men  trained  to  commercial 
pursuits  from  childhood.  In  order  that  he  be  able 
to  hold  his  own  with  them  the  young  business  man 
should  study  not  only  the  technical  part  of  his  calling 
and  bookkeeping,  but  he  should  also  interest  himself 
in  business  law,  particularly  the  law  of  contracts  and 
banking,  and  likewise  should  study  advertising  and 
salesmanship,  for  on  his  knowledge  of  these  subjects, 
either  natural  or  acquired,  will  depend  to  a  great  ex- 
tent, the  success  or  failure  of  his  business.  The  jour- 
neyman who  enters  business  must  be  prepared  for 
hard  knocks.  Starting  a  business  is  not  all  it  looks 
to  the  uninitiated,  and  many  a  heartache  will  be  ex- 
perienced before  the  business  is  finally  established  on 
a  firm  footing  or  meets  with  disaster.  In  order  to 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

succeed  the  journeyman  must  have  courage,  and  cour- 
age of  a  high  order,  not  the  common  physical  courage 
of  combat.  He  must  have  confidence  in  himself, 
a  firm  determination  to  succeed,  and  combined  with 
these  qualities  he  must  possess  the  continuity  to  re- 
main in  business  at  least  one  year,  even  at  a  loss. 

The  percentage  of  businesses  that  make  a  profit 
during  the  first  year  of  their  existence  is  so  very  small 
that  the  statement  may  be  broadly  made  that  the 
business  which  pays  expenses  the  first  year  is  in  a 
prosperous  condition.  This  is  what  must  be  expected. 
Unless  the  young  business  man  possesses  a  large  ac- 
quaintance among  architects  who  have  confidence  in 
his  ability  and  integrity  it  will  be  a  long  and  tedious 
pull  getting  the  entree  to  their  offices,  with  the  privi- 
lege of  estimating  on  work  for  them.  So  many 
"skin"  contractors  are  at  large  these  days  that  people 
who  have  the  letting  of  work  are  not  wholly  satisfied 
that  one  is  financially  responsible,  but  want  further 
to  know  whether  he  is  inclined  to  do  good  work  and 
live  up  to  the  terms  of  his  contract,  and,  as  the  young 
business  man  has  no  references  to  offer  when  starting 
in  business,  his  greatest  task  will  be  to  secure  recog- 
nition. If  this  much  is  accomplished  during  the  first 
year  suitable  progress  has  been  attained.  In  the 
meanwhile,  overhead  expenses  are  eating  out  his 
capital,  so  that  in  the  majority  of  cases  the  little  work 
secured  by  the  young  business  man  is  not  enough  to 
keep  his  books  from  showing  a  loss  at  the  end  of  the 
year. 

Business  Capital — The  first  requisite  of  business 
success  is  sufficient  capital  to  carry  on  the  business 

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Plumbing     Estimates    and     Contracts 

when  it  is  established.  The  amount  of  working  capital 
that  will  be  required  depends  so  much  on  many  differ- 
ent conditions  that  no  set  amount  can  be  stated  as 
necessary,  although  the  statement  can  safely  be  made 
that  it  is  not  likely  that  too  much  capital  will  be  in- 
vested. It  is  not  likely  that  expenses  will  be  more 
than  paid  the  first  year,  while,  on  the  other  hand,  con- 
siderable money  will  be  invested  in  furniture  and 
fixtures,  tools  and  apparatus,  stock  and  other  ex- 
penses, so  that  more  than  the  amount  necessary  to 
run  a  moderate  business  for  one  year  without  returns 
would  be  advisable. 

If  the  contractor  is  successful  in  securing  paying 
contracts  during  the  first  year,  and  is  energetic  in 
following  up  and  collecting  outstanding  accounts, 
a  smaller  working  capital  can  be  made  to  answer  than 
when  conditions  are  reversed.  Again,  the  distance 
away  from  supply  houses  will  have  an  important 
bearing  on  the  amount  of  capital  required.  In  the 
large  cities,  where  supplies  are  convenient  and  but 
little  money  need  be  tied  up  in  stock,  most  of  the  cash 
is  clean  working  capital.  On  the  other  hand,  when 
located  some  distance  away  from  the  base  of  supplies, 
after  the  regular  stock  has  been  purchased  sufficient 
cash  should  still  remain  to  defray  all  operating  ex- 
penses for  one  year  and  leave  besides  a  working  fund 
to  defray  the  cost  of  labor  and  materials  for  any  con- 
tracts that  might  be  signed. 

As  a  basis  for  estimating,  however,  it  might  be 
stated  that  a  cash  capital  of  10  per  cent,  of  the  yearly 
volume  of  work  that  will  be  done  should  prove  suffi- 
cient after  the  first  year  is  over  and  business  actually 
being  transacted.  For  instance,  if  the  yearly  volume 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

of  work  amounts  to  $20,000,  $2,000  working  capital 
would  be  sufficient  for  a  careful  business  man,  al- 
though a  greater  amount  would  be  desirable.  The 
young  contractor  should  be  warned  against  the  error 
of  contracting  for  more  work  than  he  has  capital  to 
install.  More  young  contractors  fail  for  this  reason 
than  for  any  other.  Never  sign  contracts  for  a 
greater  amount  of  work  than  your  ready  working 
capital  is  10  per  cent,  of  unless  the  work  is  of  such 
a  nature  that  it,  or  some  of  it,  can  be  turned  over 
quickly,  inside  of  thirty  or  sixty  days,  and  payment 
secured,  thus  completing  the  contract.  As  work 
ordinarily  runs,  however,  more  or  less  capital  is  tied 
up  in  each  operation  in  the  form  of  materials  and 
labor,  and  if  too  many  operations  are  under  way  at 
once  there  will  be  no  working  capital  left  with  which 
to  pay  for  labor  and  the  current  monthly  accounts. 

Opening  a  Line  of  Credit. — No  matter  how  great 
the  amount  of  capital  invested  in  a  business  it  would 
not  be  sufficient  if  the  contractor  had  to  pay  cash  for 
all  of  his  purchases.  Even  though  it  were  sufficient, 
paying  cash  for  all  goods  bought  is  inconvenient  and 
attended  with  delays  that  would  go  far  toward  cut- 
ting down  the  profit  on  a  contract.  For  these  reasons, 
as  soon  as  a  man  starts  in  business  he  should  take 
steps  to  open  a  line  of  credit  with  the  supply  houses 
with  which  he  wishes  to  deal.  No  better  way  of 
going  about  this  operation  can  be  found  than  to  sub- 
mit a  written  statement  of  the  resources  and  liabili- 
ties of  the  individual  or  firm,  together  with  a  list  and 
addresses  of  people  with  whom  they  have  had  busi- 
ness dealings,  and  of  others  who  have  known  them  for 

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Plumbing     Estimates    and     Contracts 

a  long  time  and  can  vouch  for  their  honesty  and 
ability. 

In  deciding  as  to  the  amount  of  credit  to  extend 
to  a  new  concern  a  supply  house  will  consider  not 
only  their  honesty  and  present  ability  to  pay,  but 
likewise  their  chances  of  succeeding  in  business. 
In  their  judgment  of  the  likelihood  of  success  or  fail- 
ure they  will  be  guided  to  a  great  extent  by  the  tech- 
nical and  business  knowledge  of  the  applicant,  his 
sobriety,  energy  and  general  manly  qualities.  These 
qualities  are  exhibited  to  an  intelligent  credit  man  by 
the  manner  in  which  the  applicant  asks  to  open  an 
account  or  secure  goods  on  credit. 

If,  when  duly  engaged  in  business,  it  becomes 
desirable  to  purchase  goods  from  a  concern  with  which 
there  has  been  no  prior  business  dealings,  an  order 
may  be  sent  in,  but  accompanying  the  order  should 
be  a  statement  of  the  business,  together  with  a  refer- 
ence to  those  concerns  from  whom  goods  have  already 
been  purchased.  Most  supply  houses  would  sooner 
have  the  statement  of  another  supply  house  as  to  the 
way  an  applicant's  bills  have  been  paid  than  any 
other  kind  of  information  that  can  be  furnished.  It 
is  of  little  interest  to  them  that  the  applicant  has  a 
fairly  large  cash  balance,  but  is  slow  in  the  payment  of 
his  bills,  taking  sixty  to  ninety  days  before  remitting, 
and  then  only  after  having  been  repeatedly  dunned. 
They  would  sooner  do  business  with  a  contractor  who 
has  less  working  capital  but,  through  being  energetic 
in  the  conducting  of  his  business,  is  able  to  turn  the 
money  over  faster  and  is  always  prompt  in  the  pay- 
ment of  his  bills,  even  to  the  point  of  discounting 
them.  Do  not  be  afraid  to  give  a  frank,  honest  state- 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

merit  of  your  present  worth,  and  so  conduct  your 
business  accounts  that  every  person  from  whom  you 
purchase  goods  will  not  only  be  anxious  for  a  continua- 
tion of  your  trade,  but  will  give  a  good  account  of 
you  to  whoever  may  apply  for  information. 

Before  you  have  been  long  in  business,  in  fact,  as 
soon  as  you  try  to  open  an  account  with  a  supply 
house,  you  will  be  asked  by  the  mercantile  agencies 
to  supply  them  with  a  statement  of  your  financial 
resources  and  the  names  and  addresses  of  references. 
Their  applications  should  be  as  frankly  and  as  honestly 
complied  with  as  the  statements  to  the  supply  houses, 
although,  for  special  reasons,  there  might  be  some 
questions  of  the  mercantile  agencies  which  you  do  not 
feel  called  upon  to  answer,  while  at  the  same  time  not 
withholding  the  information  from  the  supply  houses. 

It  might  be  well  to  add  that  it  is  better  to  take  up 
the  matter  immediately  with  the  supply  houses  and 
learn  what  line  of  credit  they  will  extend  to  you,  and 
not  wait  until  a  bill  of  goods  is  wanted,  then  have  to 
wait  while  they  look  you  up  and  decide  as  to  your 
responsibility.  It  is  one  of  the  preliminaries  of  busi- 
ness that  should  be  settled  definitely  and  immediately, 
so  you  will  know  just  what  to  figure  on  in  the  way  of 
credit.  Of  course,  the  credit  originally  extended  will 
not  be  as  large  as  will  afterward  be  granted  if  the  in- 
dividual or  concern  is  successful  with  the  business  and 
prompt  in  the  payment  of  bills,  and  as  credit  is  the 
backbone  of  any  business  it  should  be  guarded  zeal- 
ously. 

Extending  Credit  to  Others. — No  less  important 
than  the  securing  of  credit  is  the  extending  of  credit 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

to  others.  The  young  business  man  will  soon  dis- 
cover that  all  orders  brought  to  his  shop  do  not  repre- 
sent profit,  and  that  the  least  desirable  customers, 
those  who  are  refused  credit  elsewhere,  are  the  first 
to  discover  his  location  and  overwhelm  him  with 
orders,  without  even  asking  the  cost.  Before  doing 
work  for  a  new  patron,  however,  the  contractor  should 
exercise  the  same  caution  that  supply  houses  exer- 
cise toward  him.  In  this  commercial  age  responsible 
men  do  not  resent  inquiring  as  to  their  responsibility, 
and  it  is  better  to  lose  the  work  of  irresponsible  men. 

When  an  order  for  a  small  amount  of  work  is  left 
by  some  one  living  in  the  neighborhood  who  is  un- 
known to  the  contractor,  he  can  easily  and  quickly 
ascertain  the  individual's  responsibility  by  inquiring 
among  the  shop  keepers  in  that  locality.  If  the  man 
is  reputed  to  not  pay  his  bills  do  not  hesitate  to  de- 
mand payment  in  advance,  security,  or  refuse  to  do 
the  work.  The  time  lost  in  superintending  such  work 
and  subsequently  trying  to  collect  the  bills  would  go 
a  long  way  toward  securing  paying  work. 

In  the  large  cities  speculative  builders  of  little  or 
no  responsibility  often  have  the  appearance  of  mater- 
ial worth  and  prosperity  by  reason  of  the  fact  that 
they  are  building  a  row  of  houses.  The  young  busi- 
ness man  will  do  well  not  to  be  carried  away  by  ap- 
pearances in  such  a  case,  but  to  look  well  into  the  re- 
sponsibility and  promptness  of  all  such  builders. 
Indeed,  before  signing  a  contract  for  any  work  the 
plumber  should  first  satisfy  himself  that  the  other 
party  to  the  contract  is  not  only  able  but  is  likewise 
willing  and  anxious  to  pay  all  debts  contracted.  He 
cannot  afford  to  risk  the  chances  of  business  success 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

by  doing  work  for  people  of  questionable  responsi- 
bility, for  no  matter  how  much  he  might  desire  to 
take  a  chance  on  the  contract  he  should  remember 
that  he  owes  certain  consideration  to  his  creditors, 
and  has  no  right  to  risk  their  goods. 

Carrying  Stock — What  stock  to  carry,  and  the 
amount,  will  be  questions  that  will  arise,  in  the  mind 
of  every  plumber  who  contemplates  engaging  in  the 
plumbing  business,  and  they  are  not  easily  answered, 
for  each  case  is  a  law  unto  itself.  It  may  be  stated, 
however,  that  when  the  place  of  business  will  be 
located  in  a  large  city  convenient  to  supply  houses, 
only  such  stock  should  be  carried  as  is  absolutely 
necessary  for  the  jobbing  and  repair  trade.  The  use 
of  money  is  of  value,  and  when  goods  can  be  ordered 
one  day  and  delivered  the  next  there  is  no  reason  for 
carrying  them  in  stock.  The  money  that  would 
otherwise  be  tied  up  in  material  can  remain  to  the 
contractor's  credit  in  a  bank  or  trust  company,  draw- 
ing at  least  3  per  cent,  interest,  and  he  saves  the  extra 
cost  of  drayage  and  handling  twice,  besides  the  rent 
of  a  place  for  storing  the  goods.  When,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  plumber's  business  is  located  far  from  sup- 
ply centers  the  better  plan  is  to  carry  a  full  and  com- 
plete line  of  everything  required  in  that  locality.  By 
this  means  he  will  save  much  of  his  workmen's  time 
on  operations  by  having  everything  for  them  so  that 
they  will  not  be  delayed  or  inconvenienced  by  lack 
of  materials,  and,  furthermore,  he  will  save  on  the 
purchase  of  goods,  for  if  he  buys  pipe,  for  instance,  in 
carload  lots,  he  will  secure  a  better  price,  will  receive 
a  freight  allowance  and  will  save  on  the  time  of  hand- 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

ling  and  carting  the  material.  Stock  goods  are  the 
only  materials,  however,  that  should  be  carried. 
Specialties  for  which  there  is  little  demand  need  not 
be  purchased  until  ordered.  Again,  if  doing  a  heat- 
ing business,  while  advisable  to  carry  one  or  more 
boilers  in  stock,  still,  it  would  be  foolish  to  lay  in  an 
extensive  line,  for  the  sizes  required  vary  so  that  it  is 
better  to  order  a  boiler  of  the  right  capacity  when 
needed. 

In  ordering  soil  pipe  and  fittings  for  stock  it  should 
be  borne  in  mind  that  a  certain  percentage  of  it  should 
be  double-hub  pipe,  and  that  unequal  numbers  of  the 
different  kinds  of  fittings  will  be  used.  The  propor- 
tion of  the  various  fittings  likely  to  be  required  for  the 
work  as  done  in  that  locality  should  be  studied  out 
and  the  goods  ordered  accordingly.  The  main  error 
to  guard  against  is  the  laying  in  of  a  large  stock  of 
dead  material — that  is,  material  which  there  is  little 
or  no  use  for. 

Place  of  Business — When  ready  to  make  a  start 
the  prospective  business  man  is  often  at  a  loss  where 
to  establish  his  business.  If  he  has  been  brought  up 
in  one  town,  where  he  is  well  and  favorably  known, 
he  no  doubt  will  locate  there.  If,  on  the  other  hand, 
he  has  been  a  traveling  journeyman  looking  for  a 
place  to  locate,  his  feelings  will  be  divided  between 
some  small  home  town,  where  competition  is  not 
keen  and  where  he  would  like  to  live,  and  a  large  com- 
mercial center  where  business  is  brisk  but  competi- 
tion keen.  The  deciding  of  the  question  is  so  much 
a  personal  matter  that  no  course  can  be  laid  down  here 
to  guide  the  individual.  If  he  believes  that  a  pleasant 

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Plumbing     Estimates    and     Contracts 

home  life  with  less  income  is  preferable  he  will  locate 
in  the  home  town.  If,  on  the  contrary,  he  has  no 
choice,  so  far  as  living  is  concerned,  it  is  better  to  seek 
for  his  fortune  in  the  large  city  where  there  is  plenty 
of  business.  If  he  locates  in  a  conservative  town, 
where  very  little  in  his  line  is  being  done,  he  knows 
beforehand  that  his  chances  of  a  marked  success  are 
slight.  If,  however,  he  sets  up  in  business  in  a  large 
city  where  there  is  plenty  of  work,  according  to  the 
doctrines  of  chance  he  will  get  his  share,  and  if  a  good 
business  man,  well  posted  on  his  calling,  he  will  be 
able  to  make  a  striking  success  of  his  venture,  a  con- 
dition that  would  be  impossible  in  a  small  place. 

Having  decided  on  the  city  in  which  to  locate, 
the  next  consideration  is  to  determine  on  a  locality 
and  here  again  the  one  most  interested  must  decide 
for  himself.  A  few  suggestions,  however,  will  not 
be  amiss.  If  the  place  of  location  is  a  small  or  mo- 
derate sized  city  the  most  advisable  course  to  pursue 
would  be  to  select  a  well-located,  brightly  lighted 
store  on  one  of  the  principal  thoroughfares,  where 
his  presence  would  soon  be  noted  by  everybody  in 
town,  and  thus  become  established. 

The  same  policy  might  be  followed  with  success 
in  large  cities  if  repair  work  and  overhauling  are  to  be 
made  a  specialty.  In  such  case  he  would  want  a  loca- 
tion either  on  a  principal  business  street  or  a  prominent 
location  on  one  of  the  business  streets  of  a  residence 
section.  It  is  poor  policy  to  economize  by  renting  an 
alley  place  of  business,  or  opening  a  basement  shop 
to  save  rent.  Such  places  are  not  inviting,  and  women 
who  have  the  deciding  of  such  matters,  do  not  care 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

to  enter  a  dirty  or  inaccessible  place  of  business  to 
leave  orders. 

If  the  plumber  intends  doing  only  a  contracting 
business,  devoting  all  his  energies  to  the  securing  of 
new  work,  a  good  plan  is  to  open  an  office  in  a  build- 
ing where  a  number  of  architects  and  builders  are 
colonized,  and  in  that  manner  become  one  of  them. 
In  such  a  case  he  will  need  a  warehouse  for  the  stor- 
age of  goods  and  general  workshop  for  his  men  when 
getting  out  material  in  the  shop.  If  he  opens  an 
office  among  architects  and  builders  he  should  fit  it 
up  in  a  businesslike  way,  so  as  to  impress  those  who 
enter  with  the  stability  and  permanence  of  the  estab- 
lishment. Nothing  so  prejudices  a  person  against  a 
business  as  an  office  which  has  a  fly-by-night  appear- 
ance, as  though  the  tenant  was  here  today  and  nobody 
knows  where  tomorrow.  Fit  up  the  office  in  a  sub- 
stantial manner  with  a  heavy  desk,  safe,  typewriter, 
clerk  and  rug.  Then  hang  suitable  framed  pictures 
on  the  walls,  suggestive  of  the  business  of  the  occu- 
pant, or  showing  photographs  of  large  work  installed. 
Try  to  impress  those  who  enter,  by  the  appearance 
of  the  office,  that  the  business  has  been  established 
and  successfully  running  for  years  and  will  continue 
to  run  for  centuries.  There  is  nothing  which  im- 
presses people  like  success. 

Store  and  Window  Display. — If  the  plumbing 
contractor  rents  a  store  for  his  place  of  business  he 
wants  to  get  out  of  it  all  the  value  that  is  possible, 
and  no  better  means  can  be  found  to  that  end  than 
to  put  in  a  good  display  of  plumbing  fixtures,  both 
in  the  store  proper  and  in  the  show  window. 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and    Contracts 

An  attractive  window  display  calls  attention  to 
the  fact  that  a  plumber's  place  of  business  is  located 
at  that  number,  and  if  a  workman  is  needed  in  a  hurry 
the  place  of  business  will  be  immediately  remembered 
while  less  pretentious  places  will  be  forgotten.  Fur- 
ther, exhibiting  attractive  fixtures  in  an  artistic 
manner  creates  a  desire  in  those  who  observe  to  pos- 
sess like  conveniences  in  their  homes,  and  the  first 
part  of  a  sale,  the  creating  of  a  desire  and  attract- 
ing to  the  place  of  business,  is  accomplished. 

If  people  who  contemplate  improvements  are 
impressed  with  the  display  they  will  call  at  the  store 
for  further  information,  and,  while  they  may  not 
purchase  at  that  time,  if  the  impression  made  is  good 
they  will  bear  the  place  in  mind  when  ready  to  buy 
and  will  talk  of  it  to  their  friends  in  the  meantime. 

In  order  to  interest  these  prospective  purchasers 
the  shop  must  be  made  attractive  inside  so  that  the 
goods  will  show  off  to  the  best  advantage.  Bear  in 
mind  that  a  jeweler  never  shows  an  uncut  diamond 
to  a  prospective  purchaser,  expecting  to  sell  it  to 
him  by  describing  how  it  will  look  when  cut.  On 
the  contrary,  he  cuts  the  diamond  and  places  it  on  a 
background  of  the  right  kind  of  cloth,  or  shows  it  off 
in  an  attractive  setting.  They  know,  as  the  plumber 
must  learn,  that  most  people  lack  imagination,  and, 
to  sell  them,  they  must  be  shown  the  goods  as  they 
will  actually  look  when  finished,  not  as  they  are  in 
the  rough,  with  a  verbal  description  of  how  they  will 
look  when  finished.  It  will  pay  the  plumber  to  fit 
up  two  or  more  bath  rooms  complete,  with  tiled  walls 
and  floors  and  decorated  ceilings,  then  place  in  posi- 
tion all  the  necessary  bath-room  accessories,  such  as 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and    Contracts 

towel  racks,  cup  holders,  scales  and  other  articles  that 
add  to  the  attractiveness  of  a  display.  Seeing  these 
bath  rooms,  the  desire  to  possess  is  irresistible  to  most 
women,  and  it  is  the  women  who  have  the  purchasing 
of  supplies  and  furnishings  for  the  household. 

The  aim,  then,  should  be  to  attract  the  women, 
and  most  assuredly  a  lot  of  old  junk,  obsolete  pan 
closets,  defective  joints  and  bar  solder  piled  in  the 
window  will  not  attract — it  will  repel.  And  not  only 
will  it  repel  the  women,  but  likewise  the  men.  It  is 
all  very  well  for  the  plumber  to  be  interested  in  curi- 
osities of  workmanship  he  has  taken  out  of  old  build- 
ings, but  those  things  are  not  understood  by  those 
outside  of  the  trade  and  do  not  appeal  to  them.  A 
clothier  might  be  interested  and  amused  by  the  ragged 
clothes  of  a  beggar  and  consider  them  the  most  ragged 
and  interesting  he  had  ever  seen,  but,  if  he  were  to  fill 
his  show  windows  full  of  such  curiosities,  together 
with  all  kinds  of  misfit  and  out-of-style  clothes,  he 
would  soon  drive  away  all  his  trade.  Show  windows 
are  supposed  to  exhibit  what  the  shopman  has  for 
sale,  and  if  he  exhibits  old  clothes  or  old  pipe  joints 
the  public  will  look  upon  the  place  as  a  curiosity  shop 
or  junk  shop.  The  plumber-merchant  can  well  copy 
after  the  merchant-clothier,  and  whatever  methods 
the  latter  finds  valuable  for  attracting  trade  may  well 
be  adopted  by  the  plumbing  contractor.  In  the  show 
windows  of  clothiers  are  displayed  the  best  of  his 
stock,  and  he  keeps  a  high-salaried  decorator  or 
window  trimmer  to  do  nothing  else  but  make  the  win- 
dow attractive  The  plumbing  contractor  should, 
therefore,  do  likewise  so  far  as  making  his  show  win- 
dow and  shop  attractive  and  appealing. 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

The  value  of  artificial  light  in  making  show  win- 
dows bright  and  attractive  after  dark  should  not  be 
overlooked.  There  are  many  people  go  down 
town  at  night  who  cannot  easily  get  away  during  the 
daytime,  and  if  show  windows  are  not  brilliantly 
lighted  this  class  of  people  will  never  see  the  display, 
and  part  of  the  advertising  value  of  a  show  window 
will  be  lost.  Further,  the  streets  are  not  so  crowded 
with  busy  people  in  the  evening  and  those  who  are 
out  have  more  leisure  to  look  about  and  examine 
the  various  attractive  show  windows.  Lights  need 
not  be  kept  burning  in  the  shop  and  show  windows 
later  than  10.30  P.  M.,  and  arrangements  can  easily 
be  made  with  the  watchman  on  that  beat,  the  janitor 
of  the  building  or  some  other  person  to  turn  off  the 
lights  at  that  hour. 

Advertising. — No  person  can  be  really  successful 
in  business  without  advertising.  By  the  term  adver- 
tising is  not  meant,  necessarily,  the  paying  for  space 
in  the  local  papers  and  in  street  cars — although 
those  are  two  of  the  best  publicity  mediums — but  the 
keeping  of  one's  business  favorably  before  the  pub- 
lic. In  the  term  "favorably"  lies  the  secret  of  suc- 
cessful advertising.  The  announcing  of  your  wares 
to  the  public  is  a  business  matter,  and  those  who  try 
to  make  a  joke  of  their  advertising  and  a  cartoon  of 
their  copy  by  the  same  token  make  a  joke  of  their 
business  and  a  caricature  of  a  business  man  of  them- 
selves. Selling  goods  is  a  serious  matter  and  what  is 
required  in  a  plumber's  advertisement  is  a  quiet, 
dignified,  appealing  statement  which  awakens  a 
desire  to  possess  the  articles  offered  for  sale.  That 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

Leing  true,  it  follows  as  a  natural  corollary  that  a 
scare  advertisement,  picturing  the  danger  in  the 
deadly  but  mythical  sewer  gas,  and  the  illness  and 
death  attendant  upon  those  who  have  improperly 
constructed  drainage  systems,  does  not  only  appeal 
to  the  public  and  make  them  wish  to  have  a  complete 
plumbing  installation,  but  actually  frightens  those 
who  contemplate  such  a  course,  and  causes  them  to 
pause  and  consider  if  the  comfort  and  convenience 
are  worth  the  danger  they  run. 

In  advertising  do  not  pay  for  valuable  space  and, 
because  it  is  filled  with  something  humorous,  loath- 
some or  catchy,  imagine  it  is  good  copy.  Advertis- 
ing is  salesmanship,  and  if  you  wish  to  reach  and  in- 
fluence your  public  it  will  be  necessary  to  talk  to  them 
through  the  medium  of  your  paid  space,  the  same  as 
if  you  were  interviewing  them  separately  in  their 
offices.  In  advertising  you  have  something  to  say. 
Tell  it  and  then  stop,  so  the  story  you  have  told  can 
sink  and  stick  in  the  reader's  memory 

The  best  advice  about  advertising  that  could  be 
given  to  the  prospective  business  man  is  to  purchase 
a  good  book  on  the  subject,  or  borrow  one  from  the 
library,  and  study  its  principles  thoroughly  until  per- 
fectly familiar  with  the  requirements  of  space,  copy, 
display  and  mediums  For  the  benefit  of  those  who 
cannot  get  such  a  book  a  few  helpful  suggestions  will 
here  be  given. 

Preparation  of  Advertising  Copy. — In  the  prepa- 
ration of  advertising  copy  do  not  be  satisfied  with  a 
mere  business  card,  containing  the  name,  business  and 
location,  but  tell  a  story  in  each  issue  of  the  paper. 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

The  copy  need  not  be  changed  for  each  issue,  or,  per- 
haps, oftener  than  once  a  week,  but  it  should  be 
changed  from  time  to  time  and  should  be  seasonable. 
That  is,  in  the  spring  of  the  year  it  would  be  season- 
able to  advertise  that  boilers  and  heating  plants  are 
put  in  condition  so  they  will  not  deteriorate  by  rust 
during  the  summer.  In  the  autumn  it  would  be 
seasonable  to  suggest  putting  heating  plants  in  work- 
ing order  for  cold  weather;  but  an  advertisement  in 
midsummer  urging  repairs  to  the  heating  plant  would 
be  hopelessly  out  of  season. 

The  wide-awake  business  man  will  study  his  lo- 
cality and  suit  his  advertising  copy  to  local  condi- 
tions. For  instance,  in  localities  where  the  public 
water  supply  is  derived  from  a  surface  source,  during 
an  epidemic  of  typhoid  fever  the  time  would  be  ripe 
for  advertising  and  selling  water  filters.  In  the  win- 
tertime, in  cold  localities,  where  the  usual  contract 
work  is  at  a  standstill  on  account  of  the  weather  and 
water  freezing  in  pipes  is  a  common  source  of  trouble, 
an  advertisement  to  the  effect  that  the  plumber  had 
a  steam  or  electric  apparatus  for  quickly  and  cheaply 
thawing  the  pipes  would  be  seasonable  and  appealing, 
for  it  would  impress  every  householder  troubled  with 
frozen  water  pipes. 

The  foregoing  examples  are  given  to  illustrate  the 
point  of  time  or  season  in  advertising.  The  plumber 
should  not  forget,  however,  that  his  main  business 
is  selling  and  installing  plumbing  goods  and  fixtures, 
and  should  prepare  most  of  his  copy  with  that  end 
in  view.  In  order  to  attract  prospective  purchasers 
to  his  place  of  business  he  might  state  that  he  handles 
a  well  known  and  highly  sanitary  line  of  goods,  which 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

are  installed  at  reasonable  cost,  and  point  out  the 
convenience  of  having  running  water  in  the  house, 
the  labor  saved  the  woman  of  the  house  by  having 
stationary  laundry  trays,  and  the  delightful  feeling 
of  personal  cleanliness  as  well  as  the  health  attending 
on  the  installation  of  a  modern  bath  room.  The 
talking  points  in  plumbing  are  innumerable,  and 
should  be  studied  and  worked  over  in  an  advertise- 
ment until  they  form  a  forceful  and  convincing  ap- 
peal to  the  householder.  Do  not  try  to  work  in  all 
the  arguments  in  one  ad,  but  take  up  one  month  the 
kitchen;  next  month  the  laundry,  and  then  follow 
with  the  bath  room,  changing  the  copy  at  sufficiently 
frequent  intervals  so  the  story  will,  though  old,  be 
ever  new. 

Display  in  Advertising. — A  good,  neat,  appropri- 
ate illustration  goes  far  toward  making  an  adver- 
tisement attractive,  as  well  as  attracting  the  atten- 
tion of  those  who  are  interested  in  the  subject.  In 
order  to  be  of  value,  however,  the  illustration  should 
show  the  ideal,  not  the  undesirable.  No  sane  ad- 
vertiser would  show  a  picture  of  unsightly  soil  pipes, 
old  pan  closets,  or  copper  bath  tubs,  nor  should  a 
plumber  pay  good  money  for  space  to  frighten  cus- 
tomers away  with  allegorical  figures  of  disease  arising 
in  a  cloud  of  sewer  gas  out  of  the  drainage  system. 
When  advertising  kitchen  sinks,  show  a  neat  kitchen 
interior,  or,  at  least,  an  attractive  kitchen  sink,  with 
drip  board,  and  let  the  copy  be  about  the  kitchen 
fixtures.  When  the  laundry  is  under  consideration 
let  the  copy  be  consistent  and  tell  of  the  ease  and  con- 
venience of  having  stationary  tubs,  with  hot  and  cold 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

water  and  waste  connections.  The  bath  room  should 
be  treated  the  same  way  and  when  special  apparatus, 
like  water  filters,  are  advertised,  they  should  be  il- 
lustrated, for  what  the  eye  sees  the  mind  wants,  if 
it  is  made  suitably  attractive.  Cuts  need  not  be 
used  always,  however ;  there  are  times  when  an  adver- 
tiser has  something  interesting  to  say  and  can  say 
it  to  his  public  in  a  frank  heart-to-heart  talk  on  paper. 
In  selecting  illustrations  for  newspaper  advertis- 
ing it  is  well  to  bear  in  mind  that  only  line  drawings 
or  stipple  work  can  be  successfully  used.  Owing  to 
the  coarse  texture  of  newspapers  and  the  speed  with 
which  they  are  printed  half-tone  reproductions  of 
photographs  require  such  coarse  screens  that  very 
little  detail  is  left  of  the  pictures. 

The  location  of  an  advertisement  in  a  paper,  with 
regard  to  the  other  advertising  copy,  should  influence 
somewhat  the  display.  Having  paid  for  the  space 
the  advertiser  wants  to  get  out  of  it  all  that  he  possi- 
bly can.  For  this  reason  he  must  study  his  copy  to 
see  what  kind  of  border  to  use  to  distinguish  his  ad- 
vertisement from  the  rest.  If  the  others  are  all 
heavy  black  borders,  a  light  border  with  a  wide  margin 
between  the  copy  and  the  border  might  display  the 
advertisement  to  the  best  advantage.  If,  on  the 
other  hand,  the  other  advertisements  have  light  bord- 
ers, a  heavy  black  border  might  be  the  most  effective. 
The  main  point  to  remember  is  to  study  the  advertis- 
ing the  same  as  you  would  any  other  business  detail. 
You  will  be  judged  to  a  great  extent  by  the  card  you 
offer  the  public,  and,  so  that  the  judgment  will  be 
favorable,  see  that  the  copy  is  not  lacking  in  any  of 
the  little  details  that  make  perfect.  Besides,  you  are 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and    Contracts 

expending  money  for  business  purposes  and  you  must 
make  advertising  money  bring  as  great  returns  as 
any  other  expenditure. 

Size  of  Advertising  Space.— The  size  of  space 
purchased  in  the  papers  need  not  be  large.  It  is  the 
quality  of  the  copy  more  than  the  size  of  space  which 
counts.  Ordinarily  a  3-inch  space  in  single  column 
will  be  found  sufficient,  although  the  style  of  adver- 
tisement and  display  may  be  frequently  changed  with 
advantage  by  running  a  double-column  advertise- 
ment of  about  3-inch  space.  Frequency  of  issue  is 
of  as  much  importance  as  size  of  space,  or,  perhaps 
more  so,  for  it  is  the  frequent  recurrence  of  an  adver- 
tisement which  ultimately  stamps  it  on  the  memory; 
consequently,  it  would  be  better  to  run  a  single  column 
of  3  inches  daily  than  to  carry  double  that  amount 
of  space  two  or  three  times  a  week. 

Advertising  Mediums — Of  the  various  mediums 
offered  for  advertising  there  are  none  better  than  the 
local  newspapers  and  street-car  signs.  If  these  two 
mediums  are  properly  worked  they  should  produce 
in  time  a  rich  harvest  of  prospects  from  among  which 
the  plumber,  by  the  exercise  of  the  quality  of  sales- 
manship, should  land  a  number  of  orders.  It  should 
be  borne  in  mind  that  advertising  does  not  sell  goods ; 
it  merely  creates  the  desire  to  own  them,  and,  the 
prospective  purchaser  having  signified  his  intention 
to  buy,  or  desire  to  own,  it  remains  for  the  salesman 
to  complete  the  transaction. 

In  addition  to  newspaper  and  street-car  advertis- 
ing very  good  results  can  be  secured  by  sending  out 
to  home  owners  a  well-printed,  nicely  illustrated 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

little  booklet,  showing  various  bath-room  interiors, 
laundry  arrangements  and  kitchen  equipments.  By 
this  means  the  woman  of  the  house  has  brought  before 
her  in  pleasing  form  the  possibilities  and  benefits  of 
plumbing  fixtures,  and  inseparably  connected  with 
this  impression  is  the  name  of  the  business  man  who 
sent  the  booklet.  If  such  advertising  literature  is  to 
produce  the  desired  results,  however,  the  paper  must 
be  good,  the  illustrations  very  fine  and  the  typography 
excellent.  If  the  booklet  is  poorly  arranged,  printed 
or  illustrated,  instead  of  making  a  good  impression  it 
will  be  valueless,  or  actually  do  harm. 

Advertising  Returns. — The  benefits  of  advertising 
are  cumulative,  and  must  not  be  expected  to  bring 
immediate  and  overwhelming  results.  It  is  the 
constant,  steady  hammering  away  at  the  same  sub- 
ject which  ultimately  counts.  Nobody  can  foretell 
just  how  far-reaching  certain  copy  may  prove,  and 
if  the  store  is  not  besieged  by  interested  persons  the 
day  after  an  advertisement  is  inserted  do  not  grow 
discouraged,  for  as  late  as  a  year  after  people  will  call 
on  business  who  were  first  attracted  by  the  common 
sense  and  reasons  in  your  advertisements. 

Incidental  Advertising — The  wide-awake  busi- 
ness man  can  gain  much  publicity  of  a  paying  kind 
by  keeping  his  name  and  business  constantly  before 
the  public  in  the  form  of  little  news  items,  interest- 
ing write-ups  and  interviews  published  in  the  local 
papers.  Whenever  anything  of  a  new  or  unusual 
nature  is  done  by  the  plumber,  it  constitutes  news, 
and  as  such  will  be  welcome  to  the  papers  if  a  nicely 
written  account  of  it  is  sent  to  the  editors.  If  there 

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Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

are  more  than  one  paper  in  the  city  furnish  each  with 
a  different  presentation  of  the  same  matter,  so  that 
the  several  accounts  will  look  like  the  different  ac- 
counts of  the  respective  reporters  of  the  papers 
publishing  the  accounts.  In  order  to  be  acceptable 
to  the  editors,  and  to  have  any  weight  with  the  public, 
or  value  as  advertising  matter,  the  article  must  be  of 
real  interest  to  at  least  part  of  the  readers.  Nobody 
is  interested  in  the  statement  that  "Sol  Leader  is 
going  to  New  York  today  to  lay  in  a  supply  of  goods 
for  the  anticipated  summer  trade,"  but  they  would 
be  vitally  interested  to  know  that  a  plant  for  the 
purification  of  sewage,  the  first  to  be  constructed  in 
the  vicinity,  had  been  completed  for  the  Pelham 
Country  Club  by  Sol  Leader,  together  with  photo- 
graphic reproductions  of  the  plant,  a  popular  descrip- 
tion of  its  operation  and  directions  for  reaching  the 
site  to  view  the  sparkling,  clear,  wholesome  water 
resulting  from  the  treatment. 

Such  articles,  and  there  are  hundreds  of  them  in 
the  plumbing  business,  which  the  foregoing  will  sug- 
gest, are  news,  and  as  such,  welcome  to  the  press.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  advertising  secured  is  of  the  high- 
est brder,  as  it  shows  the  public  the  class  of  work  the 
contractor  does  and  identifies  him  with  work  of  an 
important  nature.  Likewise,  the  installation  of  a 
water-purification  plant,  water  filter,  water-soften- 
ing apparatus,  or  anything  which  can  be  worked  up 
in  a  popular  way,  will  prove  valuable  advertising  for 
the  plumber  as  well  as  good  reading  matter  for  the 
editor. 

Cultivate,  also,  the  practice  of  expressing  views 
for  publication  on  all  matters  pertaining  to  sanita- 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

tion.  Reporters  are  always  on  the  lookout  for  some 
one  to  interview,  and  when  matters  of  sanitation  are 
up  for  discussion  they  turn  naturally  to  those  whom 
they  know  will  talk  for  publication.  This  places  you 
in  the  position  of  an  authority,  and  you  are  quickly 
looked  upon  as  such  by  the  public.  For  the  benefit 
of  the  Sunday  editions  of  your  home  papers,  discus- 
sion of  public  baths,  public  comfort  stations,  clean 
streets  and  like  subjects  will  keep  you  prominently 
to  the  fore  and  confirm  the  good  opinion  gained  by 
your  former  utterances. 

Neat  signs  on  prominent  buildings,  stating  that 
you  are  doing  the  plumbing  work,  will  help  along 
your  publicity  campaign,  but  far  and  above  all  other 
methods  of  advertising  must  be  the  pleased  customers 
for  whom  you  have  done  good  work.  There  is  no 
possible  advertising  medium  like  good  work  and 
reliable  fixtures.  The  woman  who  is  pleased  with 
her  bath  room  and  is  never  troubled  with  the  appara- 
tus getting  out  of  order  will  show  the  fixtures  to  her 
friends  with  pride  and  boast  of  the  fact  that  they 
have  been  noiseless  in  operation  and  have  given  no 
trouble. 

Try  to  make  each  person  for  whom  work  is  done 
a  living,  talking,  enthusiastic  representative  and 
advertiser. 

Salesmanship. — As  a  rule,  advertising  only  creates 
a  demand  for  goods,  a  desire  to  own,  and  discloses 
those  who  are  interested.  It  is  then  that  salesman- 
ship must  take  up  the  transaction  and  negotiate  the 
sale  to  a  successful  conclusion.  Just  what  consti- 
tutes good  salesmanship  is  hard  to  say;  generally  it 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

is  a  personal  characteristic,  although  the  accomplish- 
ment may  be  acquired.  To  this  end,  it  is  well  for 
the  business  man  to  read  carefully  one  or  more  books 
on  the  subject,  to  learn  what  are  some  of  the  success- 
ful methods  employed  by  good  salesmen.  Of  course, 
personality  and  magnetism  have  much  to  do  with 
this  branch  of  business,  but  honesty,  sincerity  and 
fair  dealing  will  go  a  long  way  to  overcome  any  natural 
deficiency.  It  is  well  to  bear  in  mind  that  talking  or 
chatter  is  not  salesmanship,  and  that  telling  funny 
stories  not  only  disgusts  the  prospective  purchaser 
but  takes  his  mind  of!  the  object  he  has  in  mind.  On 
the  other  hand,  do  not  be  too  taciturn ;  answer  all  in- 
quiries promptly  and  frankly,  without  being  " windy." 
If  the  prospective  purchaser  is  in  doubt  and  asks  for 
advice,  guide  him  in  the  selection  of  fixtures  to  the 
best  of  your  ability.  In  doing  so  good  judgment 
and  a  knowledge  of  the  tastes  and  resources  of  the 
purchaser  are  invaluable.  If  the  shopper  has  only 
a  moderate  income  he  will  not  be  interested  in  ex- 
tremely costly  goods,  and  to  show  such  will  only 
make  him  dissatisfied  with  what  he  might  otherwise 
have  purchased  with  pleasure.  On  the  other  hand, 
if  expense  is  no  consideration  to  the  shopper,  show  a 
line  of  goods  likely  to  suit,  regardless  of  the  price. 
Oftentimes  an  individual  enters  a  shop  who  has  al- 
ready given  the  subject .  much  consideration,  and 
from  a  study  of  catalogues  and  advertisements  knows 
just  what  he  wants.  Unless  in  your  judgment  he 
is  making  some  grave  error,  which  later  will  reflect 
back  on  you,  do  not  try  to  talk  him  into  buying  some- 
thing else.  If  he  is  making  a  mistake  in  the  selection 

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Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

of  his  goods  point  out  the  error  to  him  so  later  he 
cannot  blame  you  for  the  failure. 

It  will  pay  the  business  man  to  become  identified 
in  his  trade  with  only  reliable  goods.  It  matters 
little  to  him  if  he  saves  a  few  dollars  on  an  operation 
by  the  substitution  of  inferior  goods,  only  to  lose  the 
trade  he  has  worked  years  to  build  up.  There  is 
no  salesmanship  so  good  as  giving  customers  not  only 
all  they  pay  for,  but  a  little  more  besides,  for  pleased 
customers  are  your  best  salesmen. 

Keep  posted  as  to  the  quality  of  woodwork  and 
trimmings  for  seats  and  closets,  and  carry  in  stock 
only  such  kinds  as  will  give  good  service,  then  use 
these  as  talking  points  when  pointing  out  the  quality 
of  your  line  of  goods.  See  that  only  the  best  of  ball 
cocks,  which  will  not  leak  and  do  not  make  a  noise,  are 
used  in  all  closet  tanks  you  handle,  and  be  sure  that 
the  flush  valve  is  of  a  kind  that  will  not  continually 
waste  water  and  make  a  noise  by  leaking  continu- 
ously; get  away  as  far  as  possible  from  putty  joints 
in  plumbing,  and  use  only  flexible  metal  to  metal  floor 
connections  for  water  closets  and  slop  sinks ;  then  call 
the  attention  of  your  prospective  purchaser  to  the 
superior  quality  of  such  goods.  If  you  can  get  goods 
that  are  guaranteed  by  the  manufacturers,  combine 
your  reputation  with  them,  and  impress  on  all  who 
call  to  look  at  your  goods  that  all  your  fixtures  are 
guaranteed,  both  by  the  maker  and  by  yourself. 
Confidence  in  one's  own  goods  begets  confidence  in 
the  purchaser,  and  as  between  guaranteed  and  un- 
guaranteed goods  they  will  not  hesitate  in  choice. 

The  plumbing  contractor  cannot  always  be  in  the 
shop  to  sell  goods  to  people  who  call,  so  it  will  be  to 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contra  c-ts 

his  interest  to  secure  the  services  of  a  bookkeeper  who 
is  an  all-round  office  man  and  can  tend  to  sales  during 
his  absence.  Impress  on  the  bookkeeper's  mind  the 
facts  about  your  line  of  goods  and  that  you  want  to 
sell  only  guaranteed  goods;  that  if  people  want  any- 
thing else  you  will  furnish  it  at  their  own  risk  and  that 
you  positively  do  not  recommend  them.  Many  sales 
that  would  otherwise  be  lost  can  be  made  by  having 
a  good  representative  in  the  shop. 

Suggestion  in  Business. — The  young  contractor 
should  bear  in  mind  that  suggestion  is  the  source  of 
business  enterprise,  and  the  highest  quality  of  sales- 
manship. If  people  never  purchased  goods  or  had 
work  done  until  they  thought  of  doing  so  themselves, 
only  a  fraction  of  the  present  volume  of  business  would 
be  transacted.  Wrapped  up  in  their  own  affairs, 
most  busy  men  are  not  aware  of  improvements  and 
new  devices  that  will  increase  their  plant's  capacity 
or  otherwise  improve  their  business  detail  until  such 
appliances  are  brought  to  their  attention,  when  they 
are  gladly  adopted.  Business  is  such  at  the  present 
time  that  all  heads  of  concerns  expect  to  have  brought 
to  their  notice  by  the  interested  parties  anything 
which  will  be  of  benefit  to  the  business,  and  it  might 
be  added,  they  are  waiting  open  armed  to  welcome 
anything  providing  its  benefit  can  be  demonstrated 
to  them.  The  writer  recalls  a  large  sugar  refinery 
in  New  Orleans  which  did  not  have  a  sink  or  slop 
sink  on  any  of  its  several  floors.  Upon  bringing  the 
matter  to  the  attention  of  the  manager  orders  were 
immediately  given  to  equip  the  building  through- 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

out,  and  the  manager  was  reasonably  angry  because 
nobody  had  suggested  the  benefit  of  sinks  before. 

So,  learn  to  suggest  improvements  to  everybody 
you  meet  in  a  business  way,  and,  wherever  there  is 
an  opportunity,  make  a  special  effort  to  interest 
people  in  work  along  your  line  which  will  benefit 
them.  As  a  concrete  example:  If  the  water  in  the 
locality  where  you  are  situated  is  hard,  suggest  to 
mills  and  factories  where  a  large  quantity  of  water  is 
used,  both  for  boiler  feed  and  industrial  purposes, 
the  advisability  of  putting  in  a  water-softening 
apparatus.  Of  course,  to  do  so  you  must  post  your- 
self regarding  water  softeners,  then,  primed  to  the 
muzzle,  go  to  the  manager  of  the  concern  for  a  good, 
vigorous  discussion  of  the  matter.  If,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  water  supply  is  derived  from  a  surface 
source  point  out  the  value  of  filters  as  a  safeguard 
from  disease,  and  advise  their  installation  wherever 
they  will  do  any  good. 

In  many  homes  gas  ranges  are  now  used  instead 
of  coal  ranges  and  some  means  must  be  provided  for 
heating  water  for  domestic  use.  Instantaneous  au- 
tomatic -water  heaters  will  prove  suitable  for  this 
purpose,  and  if  the  practice  is  systematically  made  of 
suggesting  their  installation  it  is  surprising  how  many 
orders  will  be  received. 

Again,  most  people  take  pride  in  their  bath  rooms 
and  want  in  them  only  fixtures  of  the  very  best  type. 
If  you  point  out  to  a  man  who  would  not  wear  a  last 
year's  suit  of  clothes,  or  who  insists  on  having  a  new 
automobile  every  time  there  is  a  change  in  design, 
that  his  water  closet  is  a  washout,  and  not  nearly  so 
desirable  a  type  as  the  syphon  jet,  he  will  not  hesitate 

144 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

long  about  giving  an  order  for  the  better  type. 
"Fashion  wears  out  more  apparel  than  the  man"  is 
an  old  saying,  which  holds  true  in  other  lines.  Al- 
most everybody  who  can  remember  back  twelve 
years  can  recall  how  people  who  rode  bicycles  changed 
the  machine  every  year  because  some  trifling  change 
made  the  design  of  their  machine  old,  and  while  the 
machine  was  seen  in  public,  while  bath  rooms  are 
private,  still  most  people  who  own  their  homes  want 
only  the  best  in  the  way  of  plumbing  fixtures. 

The  smoke-testing  machine  is  another  means  of 
creating  business.  In  most  of  the  old  buildings 
throughout  the  land,  there  are  leaks  in  the  drainage 
system,  and  all  that  is  necessary  is  to  smoke  them  out. 
Once  you  get  the  order  to  overhaul  the  piping  within 
a  building,  your  salesmanship  ought  to  prevail  upon 
the  owner  to  install  new  fixtures  in  place  of  the  old 
style  fixtures  now  in  use,  and  perhaps  induce  him  to 
put  in  some  new  fixtures  where  none  now  exist.  Make 
a  practice,  then,  of  advocating  the  smoke  testing  of 
old  work. 

The  foregoing  are  but  suggestions  to  point  out  to 
the  young  contractor  the  possibilities  of  suggestion. 
There  is  no  limit  to  the  business  which  can  be  drummed 
up  by  judicious  suggestion  cultivated  and  practiced. 
What  particular  lines  the  suggestion  shall  take  are 
matters  of  local  conditions  which  must  be  studied 
out  in  each  case  and  acted  upon.  The  main  thing  is 
to  impress  on  the  beginner's  mind  the  value  of  sug- 
gestion. 

There  is  another  value  attached  to  suggestion 
which  has  not  yet  been  mentioned.  If  the  plumbing 
contractor  calls  upon  the  manager  of  some  concern, 

145 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

impresses  him  favorably  and  gives  good  reasons  why 
his  suggestion  should  be  acted  upon,  conducting  him- 
self throughout  the  interview  in  a  businesslike  way 
and  impressing  the  manager  with  the  fact  that  he 
thoroughly  understands  his  business,  he  will  not  be 
forgotten,  even  though  he  does  not  secure  an  order. 
The  interview  is  at  once  an  introduction  and  an  adver- 
tisement, and  when  that  manager  is  in  need  of  tech- 
nical information  or  wants  work  done  he  cannot 
forget  the  contractor. 

Cost-Marking  Goods. — When  a  prospective  pur- 
chaser asks  the  price  of  a  fixture  the  answer  must  be 
forthcoming  without  delay  if  you  wish  to  hold  the 
attention  of  the  customer.  Nothing  seems  to  so  irritate 
a  man  as  to  stand  around  while  the  cost  of  an  article 
is  looked  up  in  a  catalogue  by  the  proprietor.  Attach 
to  each  fixture  as  soon  as  it  is  put  on  exhibition  a 
little  tag  showing  the  cost  and  the  selling  price. 
Then,  when  the  question  is  asked  it  can  be  answered 
immediately.  The  cost  price  is  always  marked  in 
cipher,  and  very  frequently  the  selling  price  is  marked 
likewise.  These  private,  or  cipher  marks  may  consist 
of  a  series  of  ten  letters,  which  may  or  may  not  spell 
a  word,  and  an  extra  letter  or  character  used  as  a 
repeater,  to  obviate  the  necessity  of  repeating  one 
of  the  other  letters  in  such  combinations  as  44,  66, 
33,  or  some  arbitrary  signs  or  characters  may  be  used 
instead  of  the  letters.  It  is  well  to  have  a  cost  and 
selling  price  on  the  fixture  alone,  and  additional  costs 
and  selling  prices  for  the  fixture  trimmed  with  differ- 
ent fittings.  For  example,  one  man  might  want  just 
the  fixture  itself  to  replace  a  defective  one,  figuring  on 

146 


Plumbing    Estimates    and    Contracts 

using  the  old  trimming,  while  different  purchasers 
might  want  a  certain  fixture  fitted  with  different  trim- 
mings, and  it  is  well  to  be  able  to  quote  on  any  combi- 
nation of  fittings  without  hesitation.  The  following 
words  are  frequently  used  as  private  marks,  although 
any  other  words  of  ten  letters  may  be  substituted: 

BlackHorse 

Cash     Profit 

Hard    Moneys 

Importance 

1234567890 

X  is  used  as  a  repeater. 

EXAMPLE. — Using  the  first  words,  "Black  Horse," 
as  a  key,  how  would  the  cost  price  of  $1.90,  and  the 
selling  price  of  $3.25  be  expressed? 

SOLUTION. — -The  cost  mark  would  be  above  a 
horizontal  line,  and  the  selling  price  below  the  line. 
In  the  foregoing  example  the  cost  price,  $1.90.  would 
be  represented  by  the  first,  ninth  and  last  letters  of 
the  key,  which  are  bse.  The  selling  price,  $3.25, 
would  be  represented  by  the  third,  second  and  fifth 
letters  of  the  key,  or  alk.  When  placed  on  the  tag 
affixed  to  the  article  the  cost  and  selling  prices  would 
be  written 

bse 

alk 

A  simple  cost  mark  can  be  made  up  from  the  key 
shown  in  Fig.  36.  In  this  a  single  line,  either  hori- 
zontal or  vertical,  represents  naught,  while  the  vari- 
ous numbers,  from  1  to  9  inclusive,  are  written  as 
shown  in  Fig.  37.  Decimals  are  written  the  same  as 
in  ordinary  figures,  and  the  period,  or  decimal  point, 

147 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

is  represented  by  a  dot.     Using  this  key  the  sum  $1.59 
would  be  written  in  the  following  manner  : 

jnr 

A  cost  mark  which  is  not  so  easy  to  read  and  not 
so  common  as  the  one  just  shown  is  illustrated  in  Fig. 
38.  The  principle  upon  which  this  cost  mark  is  con- 
structed is  that  the  horizontal  lines  at  the  top  of  per- 
pendicular lines,  on  either  side,  count  one;  those  at 
the  middle  count  two,  while  those  at  the  bottom  of 
the  perpendicular  line  coun\t  three.  A  perpendicular 
line  alone  represents  naught.  Starting  with  the  per- 
pendicular line,  which  is  of  no  value,  by  adding  hori- 
zontal lines  of  known  value  to  it  any  number  up  to  9 


F      h     L     4     i     £     t     €    f 


lJUJU  1    -I    J    1  >  .F   I   f  1 


F  i  j  3  f  r  f 

>        b    E  I  3-  1 

1             T:  J  * 

>  J 


Fig.  36  Fig.  37  Fig.  38 

may  be  expressed  and,  as  may  be  seen  by  the  illu- 
stration, in  a  number  of  ways.  Having  the  10  car- 
dinal numbers,  any  combination  of  figures  may  be 
expressed.  If  this  cost  mark  is  to  be  used  the  plumber 
should  study  it  carefully  until  thoroughly  familiar 
with  the  different  combinations  by  which  any  number 
can  be  indicated.  This  may  then  be  used  for  the  cost 
mark,  and  a  simpler  mark  for  the  selling  price.  By 
this  method  he  and  the  bookkeeper  alone  would  hold 
the  key  to  the  cost  price,  while  the  other  employees, 

148 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

who  might  be  in  charge  of  the  shop  at  odd  times, 
could  be  given  the  key  to  the  selling  price. 

There  seems  to  be  a  marked  tendency  at  present 
to  write  the  selling  price  in  plain  figures  so  that  any 
person  can  see  at  a  glance  what  the  various  fixtures 
will  cost  the  purchaser.  Much  can  be  said  for  this 
plan,  for  there  is  no  good  reason  for  keeping  the  selling 
price  secret,  while  much  good  might  follow  marking 
the  selling  price  in  plain  figures.  If  no  other  good  is 
accomplished  it  shows  the  purchaser  that  the  shop  is 
run  on  the  one-price  plan,  and  that  the  same  price  is 
quoted  to  all  inquirers.  Whether  the  plain  mark  or 
secret  mark  be  used  for  the  selling  price,  however,  is 
a  matter  for  each  business  man  to  decide  for  himself. 

In  figuring  the  cost  of  goods  to  himself,  when  cost- 
marking  goods,  the  plumber  should  not  overlook  the 
items  of  freight,  dray  age  and  operating  expenses. 

Soliciting  Business. — In  this  age  of  hustle  the 
plumber,  if  he  wishes  to  succeed,  cannot  do  so  by 
waiting  in  his  shop  or  office  for  business  to  come  in, 
no  matter  how  extensively  he  advertises.  The  ener- 
getic business  man  will  not  sit  around  waiting,  like 
Micawber,  for  something  to  turn  up,  but  will  go  out 
to  solicit  business  wherever  work  is  to  be  done.  His 
first  aim  should  be  to  get  his  name  on  the  mailing 
list  of  architects  and  general  contractors,  so  that  when 
they  have  anything  in  his  line  to  estimate  on  a  card 
will  be  mailed  to  him  notifying  him  of  that  fact.  It 
is  not  an  easy  matter  to  get  the  entree  to  the  best 
offices,  and  the  plumber  should  not  become  discour- 
aged with  repeated  failures,  but  stick  to  his  purpose, 
determined  to  win  out  in  the  end.  If  the  privilege  of 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

estimating  on  a  certain  architect's  work  is  worth  hav- 
ing it  is  worth  waiting  and  fighting  for.  The  archi- 
tect who  has  made  a  name  for  himself  does  not  care 
to  have  irresponsible  contractors  estimating  for  him, 
and  will  not  permit  it,  so  that  the  young  business 
man  cannot  expect  that  privilege  until  he  has  been 
long  enough  in  business  to  establish  himself  and  prove 
his  worth.  He  should  call  regularly,  though,  and 
make  application  at  frequent  intervals,  for  the  very 
perseverance  will  finally  have  its  effect.  In  calling 
on  an  architect  do  not  request  the  privilege  of  figuring 
on  "anything"  he  might  have  in  your  line,  but  learn 
beforehand  of  some  work  he  has  on  the  boards  and 
then  make  a  specific  request  to  estimate  on  that  work. 
Depend  on  it,  if  once  the  entree  to  the  office  is  gained, 
it  will  not  be  withdrawn  unless  for  cause.  When  all 
other  means  fail  it  is  sometimes  a  good  stroke  to  se- 
cure a  note  from  the  owner  of  a  building  directing 
the  architect  to  extend  to  you  the  privilege  of  figur- 
ing on  that  operation.  Having  by  this  means  gained 
entrance  to  the  office  your  future  success  or  failure 
there  will  depend  much  upon  yourself. 

It  might  be  well  to  point  out  here  the  value  of 
personal  appearance  in  gaining  entrance  to  an  office. 
The  man  who  is  well  groomed  and  prosperous  looking 
will  succeed  in  eluding  the  guard  at  the  outer  portal 
where  a  more  carelessly  dressed  person  would  be  turned 
away.  When  you  want  the  privilege  of  estimating 
on  certain  work  do  not  tell  your  wishes  to  the  office 
boy  who  insolently  asks  your  business,  but  state  empha- 
tically that  you  have  business  with  his  employer  and 
want  to  see  him  personally.  The  office  boy  has  no 
authority  in  the  matter,  but,  if  he  finds  you  simple 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

enough  to  assume  he  has,  will  live  up  to  the  assump- 
tion and  turn  you  down. 

Submitting  an  Estimate. — It  is  assumed  that  in 
submitting  an  estimate  the  plumber  does  so  honestly, 
in  all  fairness,  and  without  collusion  or  combination 
with  other  contractors.  These  introductory  remarks 
might  be  out  of  place  if  it  were  not  for  the  dishonest 
practice  in  some  cities  for  a  certain  clique  of  contrac- 
tors to  combine,  and,  knowing  they  are  the  only  ones 
estimating  for  a  certain  architect  or  owner,  decide 
among  themselves  who  shall  submit  the  lowest  esti- 
mate, how  much  it  shall  be  and  what  prices  the  remain- 
ing contractors  shall  offer  to  do  the  work  for.  In- 
deed, it  was  only  a  short  time  ago  that  the  building 
committee  for  a  large  building  refused  to  consider  the 
bids  submitted  by  plumbing  contractors  in  their  own 
town  and  went  outside  of  the  city  to  secure  a  fair  and 
reasonable  estimate.  In  doing  so  they  made  public 
their  reason,  which  did  not  reflect  much  credit  on  the 
honesty  and  fair  dealing  of  the  local  plumbers.  In 
reporting  the  matter  the  committee  said : 

"Having  knowledge  of  the  cost  of  the  fixtures  pro- 
posed to  be  used  and  having  carefully  estimated  the 
cost  of  setting  the  same  and  adding  a  reasonable  profit 
on  the  entire  contract,  your  committee  were  surprised 
upon  opening  the  above  bids  to  find  that  they  ma- 
terially exceeded  our  estimate.  Upon  investigation 
we  were  informed  that  a  meeting  of  the  above  bidders 
had  been  held  previous  to  handing  in  their  bids,  at 
which  meeting,  we  were  informed,  it  was  decided  who 
should  be  the  lowest  bidder;  which  low  bidder  was  to 
furnish  his  figures  to  the  other  bidders  who  were  to 
present  higher  bids.  This  action  seemed  so  repre- 
hensible and  savored  so  strongly  of  collusion  that  the 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

committee  rejected  all  bids  and  secured  an  estimate 
from  a  thoroughly  reliable  plumbing  firm  to  furnish 
the  fixtures  and  to  install  the  same  at  a  considerable 
saving  over  the  prices  submitted  by  the  combine." 

Such  a  proceeding  is  not  only  reprehensible  but, 
likewise,  it  is  a  bad  business  policy.  Once  such  a 
combination  is  worked  on  an  architect  the  doors  of 
his  office  will  thereafter  be  closed  to  all  who  entered 
into  the  combine,  and  the  news  of  the  attempt  to  hold 
up  an  architect  by  means  of  an  unlawful  combina- 
tion will  travel  fast  and  will  not  impress  those  who 
learn  of  the  business  incapacity  and  lack  of  fair  deal- 
ings of  those  in  the  ring.  The  way  to  succeed  is  to 
master  thoroughly  the  details  of  the  business  and  the 
practice  of  plumbing,  then,  secure  in  the  strength  of 
your  position,  refuse  to  enter  into  unfair  combina- 
tions and  carve  out  your  business  future  by  fair  deal- 
ings, accurate  estimating,  close  application  to  busi- 
ness and  mastery  of  detail. 

The  contractor  might  gain  a  temporary  advantage 
by  combining  with  others  to  stifle  competition,  but 
in  the  end  he  will  lose,  and  his  wit  not  having  been 
sharpened  and  his  business  methods  improved  by 
fair  competition  he  will  fail  in  the  end. 

If  for  any  reason — such,  for  instance,  as  so  much 
work  on  hand  that  you  cannot  handle  more —  you  do 
not  care  to  estimate  on  an  operation,  frankly  tell  the 
architect  so.  He  will  respect  your  fair  dealings  then 
and  keep  your  name  on  his  estimating  list,  while 
otherwise  he  would  have  to  cross  it  off  if  he  learned 
that  for  whatever  reason,  however  innocent,  you  had 
submitted  an  estimate  based  on  those  submitted  by 
others. 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

Form  of  Tender. — Having  arrived  at  the  price 
for  which  the  contractor  is  willing  to  do  a  certain  piece 
of  work,  all  that  remains  is  to  send  a  formal  bid  for  the 
work  to  the  architect,  owner  or  whoever  has  the  let- 
ting of  the  contract.  When  all  points  regarding  the 
work  are  fully  covered  in  the  plans  and  specifica- 
tions all  that  will  be  needed  is  a  little  tender  like  the 
following : 

PHILADELPHIA,  PA.,  May  14,  1908. 
HOWARD  &  GROVE, 

496  Penn  Avenue,  City. 

GENTLEMEN — We  propose  to  furnish  all  labor  and 
materials  according  to  the  plans  and  specifications 
for  the  plumbing  work  in  the  twelve-story  office 
building,  corner  of  Wayne  and  Perry  streets,  Hall  and 
Johnson,  owners,  for  the  sum  of  Six  Thousand  ($6,000) 
Dollars. 

Respectfully  yours, 

FERRIS  &  Co. 

There  are  a  number  of  conditions  which  must  be 
considered,  however,  before  an  estimate  is  submitted. 
For  instance,  if  such  a  bid  were  submitted  to  the  owner, 
or  to  the  architects  who  were  authorized  to  act  for 
him,  and  it  were  accepted  by  sending  a  line  like  the 
following : 

FERRIS  &  Co., 

City. 

GENTLEMEN — Your  offer  to  furnish  all  labor  and 
materials  for  the  plumbing  work  in  the  twelve-story 
office  building,  corner  of  Wayne  and  Perry  streets, 
Hall  and  Johnson,  owners,  for  the  sum  of  Six  Thousand 
($6,000)  Dollars  is  hereby  accepted. 

Very  truly  yours, 

HOWARD  &  GROVE. 

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Plumbing     Estimates    and     Contracts 

These  two  letters,  together  with  the  plans  and  spec- 
ifications, would  constitute  a  contract,  and  the 
plumber  can  be  held  to  the  terms  of  the  agreement. 
If,  now,  no  plan  of  payment  was  mentioned  in  the 
specifications,  no  money  would  be  due,  according  to 
the  agreement,  until  the  entire  work  was  completed, 
when  the  contractor  would  be  entitled  to  the  full  Six 
Thousand  Dollars. 

When  figuring  on  large  operations  where  no  form 
of  payment  is  mentioned  in  the  specifications  the 
plumbing  contractor  can  protect  himself  from  such 
a  possibility  by  stipulating  in  his  tender  how  the  pay- 
ments are  to  be  made,  or  by  leaving  the  payments 
open  for  further  consideration  until  the  time  of  sign- 
ing a  formal  contract.  This  he  can  do  by  stating 
in  his  bid  that  the  time  and  manner  of  payments  are 
to  be  decided  later  if  awarded  the  work  and  a  formal 
contract  be  entered  into.  In  that  event  notice  that 
he  has  been  awarded  the  work  does  not  constitute  a 
contract,  because  something  is  left  open  for  further 
consideration,  and  the  work  is  not  formally  awarded 
until  the  contract  is  signed. 

When  a  bid  leaving  something,  such  as  payments, 
open  for  further  consideration  is  submitted,  either 
party  to  the  agreement  can  withdraw  up  to  the  time 
when  a  formal  contract  is  signed.  If,  on  the  other  hand, 
a  definite  offer  is  made  and  the  offer  is  unqualifiedly 
accepted — for  example,  as  indicated  by  the  two  pre- 
ceding forms — the  contract  becomes  consummated 
as  soon  as  the  acceptance  is  mailed,  and  thereafter 
neither  party  can  withdraw  without  the  consent  of 
the  other  party.  If  the  owner  then  wishes  to  insist 
that  the  plumbing  work  be  finished  before  payment, 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

that  is  his  privilege  and  from  the  terms  there  is  no 
relief,  although  he  may  waive  that  privilege  and  make 
payment  as  the  work  progresses. 

There  is  another  phase  of  the  matter  which  is 
worth  remembering.  In  the  absence  of  a  definite 
statement  as  to  how  long  the  tender  shall  remain  open 
it  may  be  accepted  within  a  reasonable  time,  and  that 
reasonable  time  might  be  construed  by  the  courts  to 
be  anywhere  from  one  to  twelve  months.  The  signifi- 
cance of  this  lies  in  the  fact  that  a  bid  might  be  sub- 
mitted, be  forgotten  for  awhile,  then,  after  the  prices 
of  material  had  all  gone  up  and  the  other  contractors 
had  withdrawn  their  bids  or  otherwise  protected 
themselves,  the  only  remaining  contractor  might,  to 
his  sorrow,  have  his  estimate  accepted.  To  avoid 
any  such  contingency  each  estimate  sent  out  should 
have  a  time  limit  stated  on  it.  If  the  markets  are 
unsteady  and  prices  constantly  rising,  or  threatening 
to  rise,  estimates  should  have  stamped  conspicuously 
on  the  face :  "For  immediate  acceptance  only." 
When  conditions  are  settled,  and  there  is  no  danger 
of  losing  by  leaving  a  bid  open  for  a  reasonable  time, 
a  time  limit  of  thirty  days  should  be  placed  on  the 
estimate.  That  should  be  a  sufficiently  long  period 
of  time  in  which  for  the  owner  to  make  up  his  mind, 
and  at  the  same  time  it  affords  the  contractor  reason- 
able protection.  For  such  cases  estimate  blanks 
should  be  prepared  or  the  contractor  should  have  a 
rubber  stamp  bearing  the  statement:  "This  estimate 
good  only  for  thirty  days." 

An  energetic  contractor  will  have  many  estimates 
out  at  all  times,  and  if  he  should  find  himself  loaded 
up  with  all  the  work  he  can  reasonably  handle  with 

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Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

the  capital  invested  in  the  business  he  should  immedi- 
ately withdraw  all  quotations.  This  can  be  done 
by  consulting  his  estimate  blanks  and  sending  out 
to  each  person  who  has  not  accepted  his  offer  a  brief 
note  stating  that  his  quotation,  or  estimate,  of  a  cer- 
tain date  for  certain  work  is  withdrawn.  This  will 
protect  him  from  being  swamped  with  contracts  for 
work  which  he  cannot  perform. 

Signing  the  Contract. — If  a  formal  contract  is 
to  be  entered  into,  when  the  time  comes  for  signing 
the  contract  read  it  through  carefully  to  satisfy  your- 
self that  there  are  no  objectionable  clauses.  If  by 
the  terms  of  the  contract  you  are  to  waive  your  rights 
to  certain  protection,  such  as  the  lien  laws,  do  not 
hesitate  to  ask  for  some  other  security  to  take  the 
place  of  what  you  are  asked  to  dispense  with.  Bear 
in  mind  that  the  fairest  and  best  contract  that  can  be 
written  and  signed  is  a  simple,  plain  statement  setting 
forth  what  the  contractor  is  expected  to  do  for  his 
money,  and  how  much  and  in  what  manner  he  is  to  be 
paid  for  the  work.  The  more  clauses  and  conditions 
contained  in  a  contract  the  more  conflicting  they  be- 
come, the  harder  to  comply  with,  and,  finally,  the 
more  loopholes  for  trapping  the  unwary.  Above  all 
precautions,  NEVER  SIGN  A  PRINTED  FORM  OF  CON- 
TRACT. If  one  is  presented  for  signature  ask  for  time 
to  read  it  through  and  consider  its  provisions,  then 
submit  it  to  your  lawyer  for  his  opinion.  Never, 
under  any  consideration,  sign  a  printed  form  of  con- 
tract without  the  advice  of  your  lawyer,  and  it  would 
be  wiser  to  do  so  not  even  then.  There  is  no  occa- 
sion for  a  whole  sheet  of  printed  conditions  for  a 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

plumbing  contract.  The  trouble  arises  from  trying 
to  use  a  general  form  applicable  to  all  building  con- 
tracts. The  forms  are  prepared  by  lawyers  who  have 
studied  contract  law  in  all  its  crooked  windings,  and, 
under  the  guise  of  an  innocent  looking  clause,  insert 
some  conditions  which  are  harmful  to  the  contractor. 
All  of  the  conditions  which  both  parties  to  the  con- 
tract are  expected  to  live  up  to  should  be  stated  in 
the  specifications,  and  that  leaves  for  consideration 
in  the  contract  proper  only  the  amount  and  terms 
of  payment.  If  more  is  insisted  on  refuse  to  sign  it. 

Form  of  Contract. — A  simple  form  of  contract 
which  will  be  found  sufficient  for  most  cases  may  be 
worded  as  follows: 

Memorandum  of  Agreement  entered  into  the  14th 
day  of  May,  1908,  between  Ferris  &  Company,  of  the 
city  of  Philadelphia,  State  of  Pennsylvania,  parties 
of  the  first  part,  and  Hall  Johnson,  of  the  same 
place,  parties  of  the  second  part.  The  said  parties  of 
the  first  part,  in  consideration  of  $6,000,  hereby  agree 
to  and  with  the  parties  of  the  second  part  to  furnish 
all  materials  and  labor  according  to  the  plans  and 
specifications  prepared  by  Howard  &  Grove  for  the 
plumbing  work  in  the  twelve-story  office-  building, 
corner  of  Wayne  and  Perry  Streets,  Philadelphia,  and 
owned  by  the  parties  of  the  second  part ;  and  the  said 
parties  of  the  second  part,  in  consideration  of  the 
same,  agree  to  pay  to  the  said  parties  of  the  first  part 
Six  Thousand  ($6,000)  Dollars  lawful  money  of  the 
United  States,  in  the  manner  stated  in  the  specifi- 
cations. 

(Signed)     FERRIS  &  COMPANY, 
HALL  &  JOHNSON. 

In  case  the  terms  of  payment  were  not  stated  in 
the  specifications  they  should  be  recited  in  the  con- 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

tract  so  there  would  be  nothing  left  undetermined. 
In  short,  the  memorandum  simply  reduces  to  writing 
in  the  plainest  terms  what  each  party  to  the  contract 
is  to  do. 

Different  Plans  of  Letting  Contracts There  are 

three  different  plans  of  letting  contracts,  all  of  which 
the  contractor  should  be  thoroughly  familiar  with. 
The  difference  between  the  three  methods  lies  in  the 
manner  of  compensating  the  contractor  for  his  knowl- 
edge, experience  and  effort.  The  simplest  and  best 
known  form  of  contract  is  the  lump-sum  contract. 
According  to  this  method  the  contractor  estimates  the 
cost  to  himself  for  performing  a  certain  piece  of  work, 
adds  his  operating  expenses  and  profit,  and  then,  if 
awarded  the  contract,  does  it  for  that  price,  make  or 
lose.  If  the  contractor  is  an  accurate  estimator,  a 
close  buyer,  skilled  designer  and  good  handler  of  men, 
he  can  sometimes  make  on  his  work  a  small  percent- 
age more  than  he  had  figured.  If,  on  the  other  hand, 
he  is  inaccurate  in  figures,  a  poor  buyer,  unskilled 
designer  and  has  no  control  over  his  men,  the  chances 
are  that  he  will  either  lose  on  the  work  or  will  have  to 
slight  some  of  the  detail  in  order  to  pull  through  with- 
out loss.  At  its  best  this  form  of  contract  puts  one 
party  against  the  other.  The  contractor's  interests 
seem  to  lie  in  doing  the  least  work  and  supplying  the 
poorest  materials  which  will  prove  acceptable,  while 
the  owner's  interests  prompt  him  to  seek  the  best 
and  most  that  he  can  claim  under  the  terms  of  the 
contract.  The  result  is  there  is  seldom  harmony  and 
good  feeling  when  extremes  meet.  With  most  of  the 
responsible  contractors,  however,  everything  is  sup- 

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Plumbing    Estimates     and     Contracts 

plied  that  their  contract  calls  for  and  there  is  no  fric- 
tion between  contractor  and  owner.  Still,  for  the  sake 
of  contrasting  the  different  methods  of  letting  con- 
tracts, it  may  be  said  that  in  the  lump-sum  con- 
tract the  interest  of  the  contracting  parties  are  op- 
posed. 

The  next  in  order  is  the  percentage  plan  of  letting 
contracts.  According  to  this  method  the  contractor 
furnishes  all  material  and  labor  without  any  other 
agreement  than  that  he  will  furnish  them  at  a  certain 
percentage  above  their  cost  to  him.  This  method  is 
a  highly  satisfactory  way  of  doing  business  if  the  con- 
tractor is  honest,  but  if  not  overscrupulous  in  his  deal- 
ings the  door  is  open  to  many  ways  of  mulcting  the 
owner.  More  men  can  be  put  on  the  work  than  can 
be  economically  used;  inferior  or  slow  workmen  can 
be  put  on  such  contracts,  while  the  good  workmen  are 
reserved  for  lump-sum  contract  work;  a  full  and  fair 
day's  work  might  not  be  required  of  the  men;  more 
material  might  be  used  than  is  economically  required ; 
more  expensive  goods  ordered  than  the  operation 
warrants,  and  last,  but  not  least,  the  dishonest  con- 
tractor is  tempted  to  pay  more  for  his  goods  than  their 
regular  market  value.  In  fact,  the  more  the  opera- 
tion costs  the  more  there  is  in  it  for  the  contractor,  and 
a  dishonest  contractor  might  run  the  cost  far  above 
what  rightly  it  should  be.  In  the  percentage  form  of 
contract,  then,  it  may  be  said  that  the  interests  of  the 
contracting  parties  are  not  the  same,  and  that  the 
interest  of  the  contractor  is  to  run  the  cost  far  above 
what  good  design  and  installation  require  and  far 
above  what  the  owner  wishes. 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

The  final  and  best  plan  of  letting  contracts  is  by 
the  cost-plus-a-fixed-sum  method.  By  this  plan  the 
cost  of  an  operation  is  estimated  the  same  as  for  a 
lump-sum  contract,  and  the  profit  for  the  work  de- 
termined in  the  same  manner.  Having  determined 
the  profit  for  that  operation,  that  forms  the  basis  of 
remuneration  for  the  contractor,  who  gets  no  more 
or  no  less,  regardless  of  what  the  work  costs  to  install. 
According  to  this  method  it  will  be  seen  there  is  no 
incentive  to  make  the  work  cost  more,  but,  on  the 
contrary,  all  the  incentive  in  the  world  for  keeping 
the  cost  below  that  estimated.  If  it  were  above  the 
estimated  price  it -means  nothing  in  the  pocket  of  the 
contractor,  but  it  does  mean  a  dissatisfied  owner  and, 
perhaps,  a  loss  of  future  business  to  the  contractor. 
To  illustrate  this  method :  assume  that  by  estimating 
an  operation  it  was  found  that  it  would  cost,  net, 
$6,000.  Assume  further  that  the  contractor's  operat- 
ing expenses  are  7  per  cent,  and  that  he  figures  a  profit 
of  8  per  cent.  Then  the  compensation  to  the  contractor 
would  be  8  per  cent,  plus  the  7  per  cent,  operating 
expenses  on  the  estimated  cost  of  the  operation. 
Seven  per  cent,  of  $6,000  equals  $420  and  8  per  cent, 
of  $6,420  equals  $933.60,  which  is  what  would  be  paid 
the  contractor  for  his  skill  in  design,  services  in  as- 
sembling and  purchasing  material,  and  the  handling 
of  men.  According  to  this  plan  of  letting  contracts 
the  interest  of  both  parties  to  the  contract  are  iden- 
tical. They  both  want  the  very  best  installation 
which  can  be  put  in  for  the  cost  allowed.  If  the  work 
is  not  all  that  it  should  be  the  defects  will  reflect  on 
the  contractor,  while  if  the  work  gives  satisfaction 
it  will  redound  to  his  credit. 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

Another  feature  of  such  a  method  of  letting  con- 
tracts lies  in  the  fact  that  the  owner  at  any  time  can 
alter  his  plans  without  trouble  or  without  increasing 
the  cost  above  that  necessary  for  the  material  and 
labor. 

Day  Work. — The  plan  of  doing  work  by  the'  day 
is  seldom  applied  to  large  undertakings,  but  is  gen- 
erally confined  to  small  orders  for  repairs  or  altera- 
tions. When  so  applied,  the  day-work  plan  operates 
very  satisfactorily.  An  order  is  received  to  do  cer- 
tain work  for  a  patron,  a  plumber  is  sent  to  do  the 
work,  and  the  time  and  materials  required  are 
charged  up  to  the  owner.  The  rate  of  charge  in 
such  cases  is  generally  regulated  by  the  master 
plumbers  in  the  various  cities  throughout  the  coun- 
try, who  establish  a  certain  price  to  be  charged  per 
hour  for  a  plumber  or  fitter  and  helper,  and  set  a 
certain  percentage  to  charge  for  the  goods  supplied. 
The  rates  and  percentages  so  charged,  however,  are 
based  on  jobbing  work,  and  it  would  be  obviously  un- 
fair to  use  the  same  schedule  in  charging  a  patron 
for  completely  overhauling  the  plumbing  in  his  home. 
In  jobbing  and  repair  work  there  is  considerable  lost 
time  and  wasted  materials,  besides  such  small  items 
as  candles,  red  lead,  white  lead,  putty  and  like  arti- 
cles that  cannot  very  well  be  charged  for,  yet  in 
the  aggregate  they  amount  to  a  considerable  sum; 
and,  in  order  to  cover  such  uncharged  items,  lost 
time  and  waste,  the  rate  per  day  charged  for  the 
plumber  and  the  percentage  of  profit  charged  for  the 
goods  are  comparatively  high ;  much  higher,  in  fact, 
than  a  plumber  would  add  to  his  estimate  if  called 

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Plumb  i.ng     Estimates    and     Contracts 

upon  to  bid  in  open  competition  for  work  of  any 
magnitude.  If,  therefore,  a  friend  or  patron,  repos- 
ing full  confidence  in  your  honesty  and  ability,  au- 
thorizes you  to  go  ahead  with  his  work  without  price 
and  without  competition,  manifestly  the  honorable 
thing  to  do  would  be  to  add  a  percentage  of  profit 
for  the  labor  and  materials  that  would  be  perfectly 
fair  to  the  customer  and  that  would  take  no  advan- 
tage of  his  friendship  or  good  will.  What  would 
be  a  perfectly  fair  rate  of  profit  on  repair  work  of 
less  than  twenty  dollars,  might,  and  no  doubt  would, 
be  an  unreasonable  charge  or  rate  on  a  three  hundred 
dollar  installation.  The  contractor  must,  above  all 
other  things,  be  fair.  The  craft  has  long  suffered 
under  the  imputation — deserved  in  some  instances, 
undeserved  in  others — of  being  robbers;  and  if  the 
young  business  man  expects  to  succeed,  he  must 
avoid  gaining  such  a  reputation 


162 


CHAPTER  VI 


OFFICE   METHODS 


EEPING  Books — The  keeping  of  a 
complete  set  of  books  so  that  the  exact 
standing  of  the  business  can  be  deter- 
mined any  time  has  already  been  men- 
tioned. Little  more  need  be  said  on  the 
subject,  as  the  necessity  and  advisability  of  such  a 
course  is  evident  to  everybody  who  aspires  to  a  place 
in  the  business  world. 

Without  a  complete  set  of  books  and  complete 
records  of  all  work,  showing  whether  there  is  a  profit 
or  loss  sustained  by  each  operation,  the  success  of  a 
contractor  will  be  an  accident,  not  the  result  of  careful 
business  methods. 

In  selecting  a  bookkeeper  try  to  secure  one  who  at 
the  same  time  is  a  good  salesman,  even  though  more 
has  to  be  paid  for  his  services.  Indeed,  a  good  sales- 
man will  pay  for  himself  over  and  over  again  by  the 
business  he  secures  for  the  contractor. 

Auditing  Bills — No  bill  should  ever  be  paid  with- 
out going  over  the  items  carefully  to  check  them  up 
and  see  that  nothing  is  charged  for  that  was  not  de- 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

livered,  or  that  nothing  is  charged  for  at  a  higher 
price  than  what  you  are  paying  for  that  line  of  goods 
When  you  are  purchasing  soil  pipe  for,  say,  80  and 
10  per  cent,  off  the  list,  in  making  out  the  bills  the 
clerks  might  allow  only  80  per  cent,  discount,  and  that 
extra  10  per  cent.,  if  it  represents  what  you  are  over- 
charged on  all  accounts,  will  amount  to  considerable 
in  the  course  of  a  year.  Indeed,  the  writer  has  in 
mind  an  average  saving  of  $100  a  month  effected  just 
by  auditing  bills  and  checking  up  such  little  inaccu- 
racies as  are  here  pointed  out.  When  the  bills  have 
all  been  audited  and  the  differences  in  price  between 
those  quoted  and  what  are  billed  noted  do  not  be 
afraid  to  return  the  bills  for  correction  or  for  a  memo- 
randum of  credit.  Business  houses  like  to  deal  with 
contractors  who  look  after  the  details  of  the  business, 
for  it  augurs  well  for  their  success  and  a  long  and 
pleasant  continuation  of  business  relations.  By  all 
means,  then,  audit  your  bills. 

Discounting  Bills. — In  the  business  world  thirty 
days  is  considered  cash.  That  is  to  say,  if  the  bills 
are  paid  thirty  days  after  shipment  of  the  goods  it  is 
considered  as  being  a  cash  transaction.  In  some 
lines  sixty  days  is  considered  cash,  but  in  the  majority 
of  cases,  and  particularly  in  the  plumbing-supply 
business,  thirty  days  is  the  recognized  time  for  the 
payment  of  bills.  In  following  out  the  policy  of 
payment  all  bills  may  be  paid  on  certain  dates — such, 
for  instance,  as  the  first  day  of  each  month — or  each 
individual  bill  may  be  paid  thirty  days  from  its  date. 

In  order  to  induce  purchasers  to  pay  for  their 
goods  before  the  expiration  of  thirty  days,  ready 

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Plumbing     Estimates    and     Contracts 

money  being  necessary  for  the  conducting  of  a  large 
business,  supply  houses  offer  a  premium  of  2  per  cent, 
to  those  who  will  pay  their  bills  within  ten  days  of 
shipment.  That  is  to  say,  an  additional  2  per  cent, 
is  allowed  off  the  net  amount  due  for  a  bill  of  goods, 
and  not  off  the  gross  cost  of  the  goods  before  the 
discount  was  deducted.  To  illustrate:  If  the  cost 
of  a  shipment  of  soil  pipe,  according  to  the  list  price, 
amounted  to  $800,  and  it  is  subject  to  a  discount  of 
60  per  cent.,  the  net  amount  due  the  supply  house  at 
the  expiration  of  thirty  days  would  be  $SOOx.40  = 
$320.  Now,  if  instead  of  waiting  thirty  days  before 
paying  the  $320  the  contractor  wishes  to  take  advan- 
tage of  the  2  per  cent,  cash  offer,  at  the  expiration 
of  his  ten  days  he  would  send  his  check  for  $320  less 
2  per  cent.,  or  $320x.98  =  $313.60.  By  this  simple 
method  he  saves  $6.40  by  paying  one  bill  twenty 
days  sooner  than  it  is  due.  This  in  itself  might  seem 
a  small  sum  to  be  interested  in,  but  in  business  it  is 
the  small  items  that  should  be  looked  after,  for  it  is 
not  likely  that  a  large  item  of  expense  will  be  over- 
looked, and  when  the  saving  effected  by  discounting 
bills  is  looked  at  in  the  proper  light  it  is  not  a  small 
item  by  any  means.  For  the  use  of  money  for  twenty 
days  the  supply  houses  pay  as  much  interest  as  most 
savings  banks  pay  for  the  use  'of  money  for  a  whole 
year.  Think  it  over.  At  the  rate  of  2  per  cent,  for 
twenty  days  it  amounts  to  over  36  per  cent,  per  an- 
num— a  nice  reward  for  promptly  paying  one's  debts. 
Look  at  it  in  another  way.  Suppose  the  purchases  of 
a  contractor  amounts  to  $20,000  per  annum  and  he 
takes  advantage  of  the  2  per  cent,  discount  on  all  his 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

bills.     In  that  case  he  will  have  saved  $400  simply  by 
discounting. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  considerable  money  can 
be  saved  by  discounting  one's  bills.  But  there  is  a 
further  profit,  which  has  not  yet  been  mentioned. 
The  business  of  a  contractor  who  pays  his  bills 
promptly  is  worth  more  to  a  supply  house  than  the 
business  of  those  who  are  notoriously  slow  pay,  and 
just  as  in  the  contractor's  business  he  will  do  work 
cheaper  for  a  reliable  concern  which  pays  promptly 
than  he  will  for  a  concern  which  is  a  slow  pay,  so  will 
the  supply  houses  give  better  terms  to  their  prompt 
customers  than  to  their  slow  ones.  It  pays,  therefore, 
in  more  ways  than  one  to  have  the  reputation  of  dis- 
counting bills,  and  whenever  a  contractor  has  suffi- 
cient working  capital  to  warrant  such  a  course  it  is 
earnestly  recommended.  Unless,  however,  the  con- 
tractor has  sufficient  working  capital  to  take  advan- 
tage of  the  benefits  of  discounting  without  crippling 
his  business  he  had  better  not  do  so.  There  are  times 
in  business  when  time  is  of  more  consideration  than 
the  extra  2  per  cent.,  and  if  the  contractor  is  carry- 
ing considerable  work  with  a  large  payroll  it  might 
be  advisable  to  allow  the  2  per  cent,  discount  to  go 
by  default  and  keep  his  ready  money  for  the  current 
expenses,  pending  payments  on  his  several  contracts. 
The  contractor,  himself,  is  the  only  one  who  can  de- 
termine which  course  to  pursue,  and  all  that  is  neces- 
sary here  is  to  point  out  to  him  the  advantages  and 
profits  accruing  from  the  practice  of  discounting  bills. 

Catalogue  Cabinet — The  value  of  catalogues  in 
business  should  not  be  overlooked  by  the  plumbing 

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P  lumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

contractor,  who  will  do  well  to  provide  himself  with 
a  cabinet  or  book  case  for  the  filing  of  his  catalogues, 
and  some  letter  files,  duly  indexed,  in  which  he  can 
keep  the  small  pamphlets. 

If  the  various  catalogues  sent  out  by  the  different 
plumbing-supply  houses  are  carefully  studied  they 
will  prove  an  education  in  themselves,  which  the 
plumbing  contractor  cannot  well  get  along  without. 
These  books,  if  intelligently  looked  through,  will  keep 
the  plumber  posted  on  the  various  apparatus  and  de- 
vices in  the  market  which  are  suitable  for  certain  pur- 
poses. '  They  will  furnish  the  address,  so  that  any 
article  listed  can  be  readily  ordered,  and  the  very 
knowledge  that  certain  goods  are  obtainable  will,  or 
ought  to,  suggest  to  the  enterprising  plumbing  con- 
tractor means  of  making  sales.  For  instance,  if  the 
water  supply  in  his  locality  is  muddy,  a  catalogue  of 
filters  ought  to  suggest  to  his  mind  the  possibility  of 
selling  one  to  laundries,  hotels  and  public  institu- 
tions like  hospitals,  as  well  as  to  private  individuals, 
and  if  he  follows  that  suggestion  by  a  vigorous  can- 
vass of  all  prospects  he  should  land  some  valuable 
orders,  besides  introducing  himself  favorably  to  those 
who  do  not  buy. 

Look  through  the  columns  of  the  trade  papers  and 
send  for  a  catalogue  of  every  article  mentioned  on  its 
pages;  then,  as  new  advertisements  appear,  or  are 
seen  in  other  mediums,  systematically  follow  them 
up  until  your  catalogue  case  is  stocked  with  booklets 
about  everything  on  the  market  pertaining  to  your 
business,  and  note  in  doing  so  how  much  you  have 
learned  that  you  did  not  know  before.  It  would 
seem  that  the  benefits  arising  from  such  a  course  are 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and    Contracts 

so  self  evident  that  every  business  man  would  do  so, 
and  the  foregoing  suggestion  would  be  unnecessary; 
but  the  experience  of  receiving  letters  of  inquiry  from 
all  parts  of  the  country  as  to  where  certain  goods  could 
be  purchased  has  taught  the  writer  that  the  advertis- 
ing columns  of  trade  papers  are  not  as  closely  scanned 
as  they  should  be,  and  that  catalogue  cabinets  are 
the  exception  instead  of  the  rule. 

Telephones. — In  this  age  of  quick  communica- 
tion, when  time  spent  in  running  errands  or  writing  un- 
necessary letters  is  money  wasted,  the  plumbing  con- 
tractor should  have  a  telephone  in  his  office  and  in  his 
home.  If  he  is  doing  a  strictly  contracting  business 
and  only  handling  new  work,  he  must  of  necessity  be 
in  communication  with  his  office  at  all  times,  and  if 
he  does  a  jobbing  business  many  orders  will  be  lost 
if  people  cannot  reach  him  by  phone.  Indeed,  if 
jobbing  is  catered  to  the  plumber  should  have  his 
home  telephone  number  on  all  his  stationery,  with  a 
statement  that  a  call  at  that  number  would  bring  a 
man,  day  or  night,  in  case  of  emergency.  The  money 
saved  by  workmen  calling  up  the  office  for  instructions 
or  to  order  goods,  will  alone  pay  for  the  telephone 
many  times  over  during  the  year,  not  to  mention  the 
various  other  savings  and  conveniences  attendant  on 
the  use  of  the  telephone. 


168 


CHAPTER  VII 


THE  EXECUTION  OF 
CONTRACTS 


UPERINTENDING  the  Work.— 

The  young  business  man  must  not  feel 
that  because  he  estimates  on  the  work, 
secures  the  contracts,  audits  the  bills  and 
cares  for  the  office  work  that  his  whole 
duty  is  performed.  It  is  useless  to  work  out  prob- 
lems on  paper  if  they  are  not  put  into  practice  on 
the  installation,  and  the  contractor  should  see  that 
as  much  work  is  done  and  as  little  material  used  as 
he  estimated  on. 

The  only  way  he  can  satisfy  himself  on  this  subject 
is  to  give  the  work  his  personal  supervision  from  time 
to  time  as  it  progresses,  and  to  be  particular  to  lay 
out  the  work  and  explain  to  the  workmen  just  how 
it  is  to  be  done.  The  success  of  the  contractor  is 
supposed  to  be  due  in  part  to  his  skill  in  laying  out 
work,  and  he  must  not  expect  his  workmen  to  be 
equally  skilful,  or  they  would  not  be  working  as 
journeymen  plumbers.  Further,  the  contractor  has 
all  the  time  necessary  at  his  command  to  study  out 
the  best  way  to  rough-in  the  work,  while  the  journey- 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and    Contracts 

man  feels  that  he  must  make  a  showing  each  day; 
consequently,  he  starts  immediately  installing  the 
pipes,  when  a  little  time  taken  to  plan  his  work  would 
have  been  better.  At  all  events,  if  the  contractor 
expects  the  results  he  estimated  on  he  should  lay  out 
the  work  for  his  men,  and  should  give  them  detail 
drawings  of  complicated  parts  of  the  work.  Having 
acquainted  his  foreman  with  the  way  the  work  is  to 
be  done,  by  visiting  the  various  operations  every  few 
days  and  noting  the  reports  sent  in  during  the  other 
days  he  can  keep  track  of  the  progress  of  the  work  and 
assure  himself  it  is  moving  as  rapidly  as  he  estimated. 
It  does  not  pay  to  grow  careless  about  superintending 
the  work,  for  if  the  workmen  find  the  employer  is 
indifferent  about  the  progress  made,  naturally  they 
will  become  indifferent  also. 

Working  with  Tools. — It  must  be  accepted  as  a 
rule  to  which  there  is  no  exception  that  the  plumber 
cannot  work  with  the  tools  after  engaging  in  busi- 
ness, and  at  the  same  time  look  after  the  other  details 
so  as  to  make  a  success  of  the  business  venture.  The 
contractor  cannot  be  soliciting  business,  estimating 
work,  interviewing  architects  and  doing  the  various 
other  things  necessary  to  business  and  at  the  same 
time  do  his  own  work.  Indeed,  the  time  he  puts  in 
with  the  tools  saving  a  dollar  might  lose  him  several 
hundred  dollars  worth  of  work;  for  in  these  busy 
times  of  keen  competition  people  are  not  going  to 
follow  a  business  man  to  his  work  to  award  him 
a  contract  or  get  an  estimate.  Besides,  as  a  business 
man  he  must  dress  the  part,  for  people  do  not  rate 
high  the  overalls  business  man,  and,  if  working  with 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

the  tools,  he  cannot  present  a  suitable  appearance 
for  business  engagements.  Of  course,  there  are  men 
who  have  started  a  successful  business  career  in  that 
way  and  there  are  others  who  will  do  so.  But  these 
men  rose,  or  will  rise,  in  spite  of  the  drawback  of 
having  to  do  their  own  work  and  not  because  of  the 
fact.  If  conditions  are  such  that  the  work  must  be 
done  by  the  contractor,  why,  necessity  knows  no  law ; 
but  where  he  has  sufficient  working  capital  to  pay 
for  the  labor  he  should  do  so.  He  has  figured  on 
paying  out  a  certain  sum  of  money  for  labor,  the  same 
as  for  materials,  and  he  is  only  doing  what  he  estimated 
to  when  he  pays  a  workman.  Besides,  in  his  operat- 
ing expenses  he  has  figured  a  salary  for  himself,  and 
he  cannot  expect  to  do  two  men's  work  and  earn 
two  wages. 

Training  of  Men — To  successfully  conduct  the 
mechanical  end  of  the  business  the  contractor  must 
have  complete  control  over  and  be  in  harmony  with 
his  workmen.  To  do  so  he  must  treat  them  with  fair- 
ness and  pay  them  the  prevailing  rate  of  wages. 
They  cannot,  then,  demur  at  his  requirement  of  a  fair 
day's  work.  He  should  try,  further,  to  impress 
them  with  the  fact  that  upon  his  success  in  securing 
contracts  depends  the  regularity  and  permanence  of 
their  work,  and  that  he  cannot  secure  contracts  if 
the  men  in  his  shop  do  not  perform  as  large  a  day's 
work  as  do  his  competitor's  workmen.  Most  work- 
men are  fair  and  reasonable,  and  as  a  matter  of  satis- 
faction to  themselves  wish  to  do  what  is  right  and 
proper,  and  if  a  disturbance  creator  gets  into  the  fold 
drop  him  as  soon  as  possible,  for  just  as  one  rotten 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

apple  in  a  barrel  will  spoil  all  the  rest,  so  will  one  dis- 
contented spirit  in  a  shop  spread  dissatisfaction  and 
discord  among  the  men.  Treat  the  men  in  your  em- 
ploy right;  pay  them  the  highest  rate  of  wages,  then 
exact  of  them  the  best  equivalent  in  work.  Make  it  a 
point  to  know  the  capacity  and  limitations  of  all  the 
workmen  in  your  locality,  and  when  in  need  of  help 
select  only  the  workmen  that  will  be  satisfactory. 

Selection  of  Helpers. — Very  few  contracting 
plumbers  realize  the  value  and  importance  of  help- 
ers and  exercise  sufficient  care  in  their  selection ;  yet 
no  other  factor  so  affects  the  quantity  and  quality  of 
work  turned  out  by  a  journeyman  as  the  helper  or  ap- 
prentice he  has  for  an  assistant.  There  is  no  economy 
in  robbing  the  cradle  for  boys  to  carry  tools,  just  be- 
cause they  can  be  had  for  $3  per  week.  It  is  better 
to  get  an  older  boy  who  is  ambitious  to  advance  him- 
self and  pay  him  $6  per  week  for  his  services.  The 
youth  who  thinks  of  nothing  but  baseball  and  quit- 
ting time  is  a  drag  to  the  journeyman  instead  of  a  help, 
while  at  the  same  time  he  is  expected  to  do  more  work 
on  account  of  the  boy.  It  is  a  good  plan  never  to 
employ  a  "friend  of  the  family"  as  an  apprentice  or 
helper  unless  he  is  told  emphatically  that  he  works 
on  an  equal  footing  with  the  other  boys,  and  that  if 
he  doesn't  make  good  the  plumber  he  is  working  with 
is  authorized  to  let  him  go,  and  that  plan  should  be 
systematically  followed  out.  The  plumber  should 
be  given  to  understand  that  he  is  credited  with  a 
helper  whom  he  is  expected  to  make  work  and  if  the 
helper  is  not  satisfactory  he  is  to  send  him  to  the  shop. 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

By  this  means  the  contractor  will  soon  learn  what 
helpers  are  worth  keeping  and  can  let  the  others  go. 
The  materials  used  in  plumbing  construction  are 
so  heavy,  and  such  a  strong  boy  is  required  for  cut- 
ting threads  and  helping  with  the  other  work,  that  a 
helper  under  sixteen  years  of  age  is  of  but  little  value. 

Workmen's  Wages. — There  are  some  workmen 
so  superior  to  others  in  speed  and  judgment  that  they 
will  perform  at  least  one-third  more  work  per  day  than 
the  average  amount  turned  out  in  a  shop.  When  the 
services  of  such  a  man  are  secured  his  superior  ability 
should  be  recognized  and  paid  for  accordingly.  It 
is  unreasonable  and  unjust  to  expect  an  expert  work- 
man to  continue  doing  more  and  better  work  each 
day  than  his  companions  without  recognizing  his 
services.  Indeed,  if  the  proper  spirit  is  to  be  main- 
tained among  the  force,  it  is  absolutely  necessary  to 
reward  every  effort  in  the  contractor's  behalf.  If  a 
workman  puts  up  such  speed  that  he  is  doing  far  more 
work  than  formerly,  pay  him  for  it.  If  he  plans  out 
a  way  to  save  material  reward  him  for  his  interest.  If 
this  plan  is  followed  out  the  contractor  will  soon  sur- 
round himself  with  a  well-disciplined  crew  of  men  full 
of  loyalty  and  all  zealous  in  his  cause.  If  he  does  not 
pay  for  such  services  other  contractors  will  and  he 
will  soon  lose  his  good  workmen. 

Foremen. — The  plumbing  business  seems  the  only 
one  connected  with  building  where  foremen  are  not 
considered  necessary;  or  if  a  plumber  is  put  in  charge 
of  work  he  is  not  given  extra  compensation  for  his 
services.  That  is  not  as  it  should  be.  Either  an 
operation  does  not  require  a  foreman  or  it  does.  If 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

one  is  needed  he  should  be  selected  on  account  of  his 
fitness  for  the  position,  and  if  he  possesses  the  neces- 
sary qualifications  to  place  him  above  his  fellow  work- 
men he  should  be  paid  for  the  attainments.  The 
practice  has  so  long  obtained  in  the  business  of  let- 
ting each  man  shift  for  himself  that  outside  of  large 
shops  in  the  very  large  cities  foremen  are  dispensed 
with.  Much  better  results  will  be  obtained,  however, 
by  placing  a  foreman  in  charge  of  every  operation  and 
looking  to  him  for  results.  If  he  is  the  right  man  for 
the  position  and  he  is  paid  for  his  services  the  con- 
tractor's interest  will  be  looked  after  better  than  if 
he  were  present. 

Supplying  the  Workmen   with  Materials. — So 

that  workmen  can  work  to  the  best  advantage  and  not 
be  held  back  for  lack  of  materials  the  contractor 
should  require  his  foreman  to  keep  planning  the  work 
a  few  days  ahead,  so  that  all  necessary  materials  can 
be  ordered  and  delivered  to  the  various  operations 
in  time  to  avoid  delays.  If  some  plan  of  ordering 
ahead  is  followed,  not  waiting  until  the  plumber  sends 
word  he  is  unable  to  proceed  for  want  of  material, 
many  hundred  dollars  in  time  can  be  saved  every 
year. 


174 


PART 

III 

BUSINESS   LAW 


CHAPTER  VIII 


THE   LAW   OF   CONTRACTS 

XPLANATION  of  a  Contract.— A 

contract  is  legally  defined  as  an  agree- 
ment, or  undertaking  between  two  or 
more  parties,  for  the  doing  or  the  not 
doing  of  some  particular  thing.  In  order 
to  be  perfectly  valid  and  binding,  a  contract  must 
conform  to  certain  legal  requirements  as  to  parties, 
subject  matter,  consideration  and  mutual  understand- 
ing, and  these  requirements  are  known  as  the  requis- 
ites of  a  valid  contract.  For  instance,  there  must 
be  more  than  one  party  to  a  contract,  for  it  is  obvious 
that  a  party  cannot  enter  into  an  agreement  with 
himself,  either  as  an  individual,  or  as  individual  as 
one  party  and  as  representative  of  another  as  the 
other  party.  Further  both  or  all  the  parties  to  a 
contract  must  be  legally  capable  of  entering  into  a 
contract.  A  minor,  a  lunatic  or  the  principal  of  an 

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agent,  not  authorized  to  act  in  such  a  capacity,  is 
not  responsible  for  debts  contracted,  therefore  none 
of  them  could  be  parties  to  a  contract.  On  the  other 
hand,  a  legally  appointed  guardian  for  a  lunatic  or 
infant,  or  the  duly  accredited  official  of  a  munici- 
pality or  corporation,  is  capable  of  becoming  a  party 
to  a  contract,  for  and  in  the  stead  of  his  principal, 
who  then  becomes  legally  responsible. 

Again,  it  is  conceivable  that  an  agreement  can- 
not be  entered  into  between  two  or  more  persons  with- 
out there  is  a  subject  matter.  That  is,  something  for 
the  contracting  parties  to  do,  or  not  to  do.  For 
instance,  a  plumber  might  undertake  to  install  the 
plumbing  in  a  certain  building,'  in  which  case  the 
subject  matter  calls  for  the  performance  of  work  and 
furnishing  of  material.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
plumber,  having  purchased  property  in  a  residence 
section,  with  the  intention  of  erecting  a  shop  thereon, 
might  contract  with  his  neighbors  not  to  use  the 
premises  as  business  property,  in  which  case  the  sub- 
ject matter  would  call  for  the  non-performance  of 
a  certain  thing. 

The  third  requisite  of  a  valid  contract  is  considera- 
tion. That  is  something  given  by  one  of  the  contract- 
ing parties  for  the  work  performed  or  money  paid  by 
the  other.  When  a  plumber  undertakes  to  install 
the  plumbing  in  a  building  for  an  owner,  he  performs 
the  work  for  the  money,  or  consideration,  paid  him 
by  the  owner.  On  the  other  hand,  the  consideration 
for  the  owner  is  the  work  performed  and  material 
furnished  for  the  contract  price.  If  a  contract  called 
for  the  plumber  to  furnish  all  material  and  labor 
and  no  consideration  were  expressed,  that  is,  no  pro- 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

vision  made  according  to  the  terms  of  the  contract 
to  pay  him  for  his  trouble  and  outlay,  the  contract 
would  be  void,  and  the  courts  would  not  enforce  it 
for  lack  of  consideration.  Sometimes,  however, 
contracts  are  drawn,  in  which  only  a  nominal  con- 
sideration is  expressed.  That  is,  the  contract  stipu- 
lates: "In  consideration  of  One  Dollar  and  other 
valuable  considerations  in  hand  paid,  the  receipt  of 
which  is  hereby  acknowledged,  etc."  In  such  cases 
there  is  an  expressed  consideration,  and  even  though 
the  one  dollar  in  hand  paid  might  seem  inadequate, 
the  contract  is  nevertheless  valid,  for  there  is  a  con- 
sideration. 

The  final  requisite  of  a  valid  contract  is  known  as 
assent  of  the  parties,  but  may  be  more  clearly  ex- 
pressed as  mutual  understanding  of  the  terms.  This 
means  that  both  parties  must  have  in  mind  the  same 
subject  matter  when  the  terms  of  the  contract  are 
made.  For  example,  suppose  an  owner  had  an  eight- 
story  apartment  house  on  one  corner  of  a  block,  and 
a  four-story  apartment  on  another.  The  owner  in 
the  negotiation  has  in  mind  the  eight-story  building 
while  the  plumber  has  in  mind  the  four-story  struc- 
ture. In  that  event,  there  is  no  mutual  understand- 
ing, therefore  there  can  be  no  agreement  of  minds  on 
the  terms,  consequently,  the  contract  which  attempts 
to  express  the  agreement  is  void. 

Parties  to  a  Contract. — Before  signing  a  con- 
tract, the  plumber  should  satisfy  himself  that  the 
person  with  whom  he  is  dealing  is  legally  capable  of 
making  a  contract  or  is  duly  authorized.  If  the  per- 
son is  not  of  age,  is  mentally  unbalanced,  is  a  bank- 

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nipt,  and  in  some  states  is  a  married  woman,  the  con- 
tract is  void  or  voidable.  Time,  worry  and  money 
will  be  saved  in  such  cases  by  taking  up  the  matter 
with  the  natural  or  appointed  guardian  and  have  him 
sign  the  contract. 

In  the  case  of  municipal,  state  and  national 
governments,  likewise  in  the  case  of  corporations, 
some  one  officer  is  authorized  to  sign  contracts  similar 
to  those  for  plumbing  work,  and  before  entering  upon 
the  performance  of  the  contract,  the  plumber  should 
satisfy  himself  that  the  right  person  had  authorized 
him  to  proceed.  Sometimes  the  plumber  has  to 
deal  with  the  agent  of  an  owner,  in  which  case  he  must 
make  certain  that  the  agent  is  duly  authorized  in 
writing.  Indeed,  it  is  questionable  if  the  authority 
of  an  agent  to  sign  contracts  for  work  affecting  real 
estate  would  not  have  to  be  not  only  in  writing,  but 
sealed  and  acknowledged. 

The  architect  is  usually  an  agent  of  the  owner, 
authorized  to  order  new  work  and  obligate  the  owner 
to  pay  the  cost.  Sometimes  he  is  authorized  to  sign 
contracts,  but  that  must  be  a  specific  authorization, 
not  an  implied  one,  in  order  to  bind  the  owner.  In 
public  work,  on  the  other  hand,  the  architect  has  no 
authority  to  order  changes  or  extras.  If  he  does 
so,  there  is  nothing  to  prevent  those  in  authority 
from  ratifying  his  act,  but  usually  it  is  best  to  secure 
a  written  order  for  all  extra  work  from  the  commis- 
sioners in  charge  of  the  building  operation. 

Statute  of  Frauds. — For  the  prevention  of  fraud, 
a  code  of  laws  called  The  Statute  of  Frauds,  has  been 
enacted  in  every  state  throughout  the  Union.  These 

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Plumbing     Estimates    and     Contracts 

statutes,  while  very  similar,  vary  slightly  in  differ- 
ent states,  so  it  will  be  of  advantage  to  the  plumber 
to  look  up  its  provisions  in  the  state  where  he  is  lo- 
cated. Whatever  the  language  used,  the  general 
tenor  of  the  three  principal  sections  of  the  various 
statutes  is  as  follows : 

1.  "Any  contract  for  the  sale  of  land,  or  for  the 
sale  of  any  interest  in  land,  to  be  binding,  must  be 
in  writing  and  subscribed  by  the  party  to  be  charged 
therewith,  or  his  agent  duly  authorized  in  writing." 

2.  "No  agreement  for  the  sale  of  goods  or  chat- 
tels of  the  value  of  fifty  dollars  or  more,  will  be  bind- 
ing unless  some  note  or  memorandum  of  the  agreement 
is  in  writing  and  signed  by  the  party  to  be  charged 
therewith  or  his  duly  authorized  agent." 

3.  "No  promise  to  answer  for  the  debt,  default 
or  miscarriage  of  another  shall  be  valid,  without  a 
written  memorandum,  stating  the  consideration  and 
signed  by  the  party  to  be  charged  therewith." 

It  will  be  noticed  that  in  each  of  the  paragraphs 
cited,  in  order  to  make  the  contract  valid,  it  is  not 
necessarily  to  be  signed  by  both  the  parties,  but  only 
the  one  to  be  charged  therewith.  For  instance,  if 
the  contract  were  in  the  form  of  letters,  in  which  the 
plumber  offered  to  furnish  all  labor  and  material  for 
an  operation  for  a  stipulated  amount,  and  the  owner 
had  consummated  the  agreement  with  an  unquali- 
fied acceptance,  either  letter  would  prove  a  sufficient 
memorandum  to  bring  the  contract  within  the  re- 
quirements of  the  Statute  of  Frauds,  the  particular 
one  depending  on  which  party  to  the  contract  was 
to  be  charged  therewith.  If  the  plumber  were  sued 

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on  the  contract,  his  signed  offer  would  be  the  memo- 
randum required,  while  if  the  plumber  sued  for  the 
contract  price  the  owner's  letter  of  acceptance  would 
be  the  signed  memorandum  required  by  the  Statute 
of  Frauds. 

Analyzing  Section  No.  1  it  will  be  seen  that  any 
contract  for  the  sale  of  land  or  any  interest  in  land, 
to  be  binding  must  be  in  writing  and  signed  by  the 
party  to  be  charged  therewith,  or  his  agent,  duly 
authorized  in  writing.  This,  of  course,  refers  to  the 
party  who  agrees  to  purchase  the  land  as  well  as  to 
the  one  who  agrees  to  sell,  but  so  far  as  the  scope 
of  this  work  is  concerned,  the  plumber  is  not  interested 
in  the  purchase  end  of  the  agreement.  Owing  to  the 
fact,  however,  that  many  operations  in  large  cities 
are  conducted  by  dummies,  or  nominal  agents,  it 
behooves  the  plumber  to  know  their  right  to  act, 
and  be  sure  that  where  an  interest  in  land  is  concerned, 
the  person  signing  the  contract  has  a  power  of  attorney 
duly  sealed,  acknowledged  and  recorded  with  the 
register  of  deeds  of  that  county.  For  example,  to 
explain  the  section,  assume  that  a  builder  has  been 
empowered  to  sign  contracts  for  certain  work  with 
sub-contractors,  but  has  no  power  of  attorney  to  sell 
or  convey  an  interest  in  land.  Suppose,  then,  that 
this  agent  agreed  to  give  as  purchase  money  one  of 
a  row  of  buildings  to  the  plumber,  in  return  for  his 
doing  the  plumbing  work  in  all  the  row.  Such  a 
contract  could  not  be  enforced,  for  the  agent  has  no 
authority  to  sell  or  convey  an  interest  in  land  and 
while  if  the  owner  of  the  buildings  was  responsible 
the  plumber  could  recover  for  the  value  of  the  work, 
he  could  not  recover  the  building  according  to  the 

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terms  of  the  contract.  Again,  suppose  the  builder 
agrees  to  give  in  return  for  the  work  when  completed, 
a  first  or  second  mortgage  on  the  premises.  Such  an 
agreement  would  be  void  because  a  mortgage  is  such 
an  interest  in  land  as  to  bring  it  within  the  require- 
ments of  the  Statute  of  Frauds. 

The  second  section  declaring  that  no  agreement 
for  the  sale  of  goods  or  chattels  of  the  value  of  fifty 
dollars  or  more  will  be  binding  unless  some  note  or 
memorandum  of  the  agreement  is  in  writing,  and 
signed  by  the  party  to  be  charged  therewith,  or  his 
duly  authorized  agent,  has  two  conditions  which 
should  be  carefully  noted.  First,  while  no  verbal 
contract  for  goods  of  the  value  of  fifty  dollars  or  more 
can  be  enforced,  the  plumber  is  not  without  a  remedy 
at  law.  He  cannot  set  up  a  promise  to  pay  an 
amount  of  say  $200  in  return  for  material  furnished 
and  work  performed,  but  he  can  bring  action  to  re- 
cover that  amount  as  the  ^actual  value  of  the  work 
performed.  Where  there  is  no  express  agreement 
as  to  the  price  to  be  paid,  the  rule  of  law  is  Quantum 
Meruit — as  much  as  he  deserves,  or  the  value  of  the 
work  and  materials. 

The  second  condition  has  reference  to  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  agent.  In  this  respect  there  seems  to  be 
an  exception  to  the  general  rule  that  to  sign  a  certain 
document,  the  agent  must  be.  authorized  by  a  written 
document  of  equal  dignity  with  the  one  to  be  signed. 
That  is,  in  order  to  sign  written  contracts,  the  agent 
would  have  to  be  authorized  by  a  document  in  writing, 
and  to  affix  a  seal  to  a  document,  the  agent  would 
have  to  be  authorized  by  a  written  power  under  seal. 
In  the  case  under  consideration,  however,  the  agent 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

need  be  only  "duly  authorized."  For  instance,  a 
salesman  for  a  jobbing  house  might,  and  probably 
would,  be  engaged  orally;  yet,  having  been  "duly 
authorized"  he  can  sign  orders  or  contracts  to  deliver 
thousands  of  dollars  worth  of  goods,  so  long  as  he 
acts  within  the  scope  of  his  authority,  and  the  con- 
tract would  be  valid  and  enforceable. 

The  third  section  cited  in  the  Statute  of  Frauds  is 
of  particular  importance  to  plumbers,  for  ignorance 
of  its  provisions  may  lead  to  heavy  losses  when  he 
believes  himself  most  secure.  Read  again  the  pro- 
vision: "No  promise  to  answer  for  the  debt,  default 
or  miscarriage  of  another  shall  be  valid  without  a 
written  memorandum  stating  the  consideration  and 
signed  by  the  party  to  be  charged  therewith."  Take 
for  instance  the  case  where  the  plumber  not  caring 
to  trust  a  certain  individual,  asks  security  for  the 
payment  of  his  contract  price  before  beginning  work. 
Some  friend  or  relative  of  the  owner  comes  to  the 
plumber  and  says  "I  understand  you  will  not  do 
Blank's  work  without  security.  What's  the  matter? 
He's  all  right.  You  go  ahead  and  put  in  the  plumb- 
ing and  if  he  doesn't  pay  you,  I  will."  That  looks 
secure  enough  and  the  plumber  fulfills  his  part  of  the 
contract  only  to  find  that  the  owner  can't  pay  and 
the  surety  will  not,  and  safely  hides  behind  that 
provision  of  the  Statute  of  Frauds,  which  requires 
any  agreement  or  promise  to  answer  for  the  debt, 
default  or  miscarriage  of  another  to  be  in  writing. 

But  assume  that  the  plumber  insists  that  the 
promise  to  pay  be  in  writing,  and  the  surety  writes 
and  signs  an  obligation  like  the  following : 

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Plumbing     Estimates    and     Contracts 

"PHILADELPHIA.  PA.,  Aug.  25th,  1910. 
MR.  HENRY  LEADER,  Plumbing  Contractor. 

Dear  Sir: — I  understand  you  will  not  do  the 
plumbing  work  in  Blank's  house  without  your  con- 
tract price  being  guaranteed.  I  have  known  Blank 
for  a  long  time  and  feel  sure  you  will  not  lose  any- 
thing by  the  contract.  You  may  go  ahead  with 
the  work  and  in  case  he  does  not  pay  you,  I  will. 

HARVEY  B.  RIVERS." 

Again  the  plumber  feels  perfectly  secure,  only  to 
find  on  default  of  both  parties  that  he  cannot  recover 
payment  from  the  surety,  Harvey  B.  Rivers,  because 
the  memorandum  in  writing  does  not  state  a  con- 
sideration. Two  things  to  bear  in  mind  therefore  is, 
that  when  a  person  agrees  to  go  security  for  the  debts 
of  another,  the  agreement  must  be  in  writing,  and 
must  state  the  consideration.  A  form  of  surety  which 
would  be  perfectly  secure  and  binding  would  be  a 
brief  statement,  such  as  follows: 

"PHILADELPHIA,  PA.,  August  25,  1910. 
Greeting: — Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that 
I,  Harvey  B.  Rivers,  in  consideration  of  one  dollar 
in  hand  paid  and  other  valuable  considerations,  the 
receipt  of  which  I  hereby  acknowledge,  pledge 
myself,  my  estate,  heirs  and  assigns  and  agree  to 
pay  unto  Mr.  Henry  Leader,  the  contract  price  for 
the  plumbing  in  the  residence  of  August  Blank,  in 
case  the  said  Blank  should  neglect,  refuse,  or  fail 
to  pay  the  said  contract  price,  upon  completion  of 
the  work. 

HARVEY  B.  RIVERS." 

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Plumbing     Estimates    and     Contracts 

In  some  states  the  Statute  of  Frauds  only  requires 
a  promise  to  answer  for  the  debt  of  another  to  be  in 
writing,  but  does  not  require  the  consideration  to 
be  stated;  notwithstanding  this,  it  is  well  always  in 
all  agreements  to  state  the  consideration. 

As  was  previously  suggested,  it  will  pay  the 
plumber  wherever  he  may  be  to  familiarize  himself 
with  the  provisions  of  the  Statute  of  Frauds  of  his 
state,  as  well  as  the  lien  laws  of  his  commonwealth. 

Form  of  Contract. — A  contract  may  be  a  very 
formal  document  prepared  with  due  deliberation 
after  all  the  terms  have  been  fully  considered,  or,  as 
is  more  often  the  case,  it  may  be  a  specific  tender  and 
and  unqualified  acceptance.  In  this  connection  it 
is  well  to  point  out  that  if  the  acceptance  is  not  un- 
qualified, there  is  not  a  valid  contract.  For  instance, 
if  the  plumber  writes : 

"PHILADELPHIA,  PA.,  August  21st,  1910. 
MR.  AUGUST  BLANK. 

Dear  Sir: — I  will  furnish  all  material  and  labor, 
according  to  the  plans  and  specifications,  for  the 
plumbing  work  in  the  residence  you  are  building  on 
the  corner  of  12th  and  Houston  Streets,  for  the  sum 
of  Six  Hundred  Dollars  ($600.00). 

Respectfully  submitted, 

HENRY  LEADER." 
and  Mr.  August  Blank  replies : 

"PHILADELPHIA,  PA.,  August  22,  1910. 
MR.  HENRY  LEADER. 

Dear  Sir: — I  herewith  accept  your  offer  of  the 
21st  inst.  to  furnish  all  material  and  labor  according 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

to  the  plans  and  specifications  for  the  plumbing  work 
in  my  new  residence,  Twelfth  and  Houston  Streets, 
for  the  sum  of  Six  Hundred  Dollars  ($600.00). 

AUGUST  BLANK." 

The  two  letters  form  a  binding  and  valid  contract 
which  will  be  enforced  in  any  court  having  juris- 
diction. If,  however,  Mr.  Blank  sends  a  qualified 
acceptance  like  the  following: 

"PHILADELPHIA,  PA.,  August  22d,  1910. 
MR.  HENRY  LEADER. 

Dear  Sir: — I  hereby  accept  your  offer  of  the  21st 
inst.,  to  furnish  all  material  and  labor  according  to 
the  plans  and  specifications  for  the  plumbing  work  in 
my  new  residence,  Twelfth  and  Houston  Streets,  for 
the  sum  of  Six  Hundred  Dollars.  ($600.00),  provided 
you  will  include  the  gas  fitting  for  this  price. 
Yours  very  truly, 

AUGUST  BLANK." 

there  would  be  no  contract  because  there  was  not 
an  unqualified  acceptance.  Instead  the  offer  has 
been  met  by  a  counter  offer  and  the  contract  can  only 
be  consummated  by  an  unqualified  acceptance  by  the 
plumber  of  the  tender  made  by  the  owner.  If,  taking 
that  letter  for  an  acceptance,  as  he  was  willing  to 
throw  in  the  gas  fitting,  the  plumber  went  ahead, 
ordering  material  for  the  work  and  incurring  other 
expenses  without  notifying  the  owner,  he  would  have 
no  redress  for  the  owner's  actions,  if,  considering  his 
counter  offer  was  refused,  the  owner  gave  the  con- 
tract to  some  other  plumber. 

The  owner  might  accept  the  terms  but.  stipulate 
that  half  the  contract  price  be  paid  in  60-day  notes; 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and    Contracts 

or  there  might  be  some  other  condition  which  he 
would  like  to  incorporate,  but  no  matter  what  the 
condition  might  be,  it  prevents  the  consummation 
of  the  contract  so  long  as  it  remains  unaccepted  by 
the  plumber. 

Another  point  to  remember  is  that  once  an  offer 
like  the  foregoing  is  accepted,  payment  is  not  due 
until  the  contract  is  completed  in  its  entirety,  unless 
stipulated  otherwise  in  the  specifications.  Therefore, 
in  the  absence  of  a  payment  clause  in  the  specifi- 
cations, it  is  well  for  the  plumber  to  state  in  his 
offer  the  manner  in  which  he  would  like  payments 
made. 

In  order  that  the  contract  be  binding,  the  offer  or 
tender  must  be  specific.  The  plumber  must  unqual- 
ifiedly offer  to  do  that  which  is  accepted.  If  through 
excessive  caution,  or  with  a  view  of  opening  negotia- 
tion he  should  make  a  tentative  offer  such  as : 

"PHILADELPHIA,  PA.,  August  21st,  1910. 
MR.  AUGUST  BLANK. 

Dear  Sir: — I  have  carefully  studied  the  plans  and 
specifications  for  your  new  residence,  Twelfth  and 
Houston  Streets,  and  believe  I  can  put  you  in  a  first 
class  job  of  plumbing  for  Six  Hundred  Dollars 
($600.00).  I  trust,  therefore,  that  you  will  favor  me 
with  the  work  when  you  are  ready  to  let  the  plumb- 
ing contract. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

HENRY  LEADER." 

and  the  owner  should  send  an  unqualified  accept- 
ance, it  would  not  consummate  a  contract  enforceable 
against  the  plumber,  for  he  has  not  specifically  offered 

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Plumbing    Estimates    and    Contracts 

to  do  the  work  for  that  sum.  His  belief  that  he  can 
profitably  perform  the  work  for  six  hundred  dollars 
is  not  an  offer  to  do  so. 

The  following  form  of  contract  is  a  copy  of  the 
uniform  contract  adopted  and  recommended  for  use 
by  the  American  Institute  of  Architects  and  National 
Association  of  Builders.  It  is  well,  however,  in  pre- 
paring a  contract  for  signatures,  to  avoid  printed 
forms.  Usually  they  contain  some  provision  which 
is  objectionable  and  had  better  be  left  out.  A  printed 
form  may  be  used  as  a  guide,  however,  and  a  type- 
written copy  prepared  incorporating  whatever  sec- 
tions or  articles  are  considered  desirable  and  omitting 
those  which  are  objectionable  or  which  are  not 
clearly  understood  as  affecting  the  terms  of  the  agree- 
ment under  consideration.  When  a  printed  form  is 
to  be  used,  sometimes  the  intention  is  to  cross  out 
objectionable  articles  by  drawing  lines  through  them; 
but,  by  an  oversight,  the  objectionable  sections  are 
not  eliminated  before  signing  and  those  remain,  re- 
taining all  their  validity. 

UNIFORM   CONTRACT 

Adopted  and  Recommended  for 
General  Use  by  the 

AMERICAN   INSTITUTE   OF   ARCHITECTS 

and  the 
NATIONAL   ASSOCIATION   OF   BUILDERS 

This  Agreement,  made  the day 

of in  the  year  one  thousand 

nine  hundred  and..... by  and  between 

party  of  the  first  part  (herein- 
after designated  the  Contractor  ) ,  and party 

of  the  second  part   (hereinafter  designated  the  Owner    ), 

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Witnesseth  that  the  Contractor  ,  in  consideration  of  the 
agreements  herein  made  by  the  Owner  ,  agree  with  the  said 
Owner  as  follows: 

ARTICLE  I.     The  Contractor     shall  and  will  provide  all 

the  materials  and  perform  all  the  work  for  the as 

shown  on  the  drawings  and  described  in  the  specifications  pre 

pared  by.... - ...... 

Architects,  which  drawings  and  specifications  are  identified 
by  the  signatures  of  the  parties  hereto,  and  become  hereby 
a  part  of  this  contract. 

ART.  II.  It  is  understood  and  agreed  by  and  between 
the  parties  hereto  that-  the  work  included  in  this  contract 
is  to  be  done  under  the  direction  of  the  said  Architects,  and 
that  their  decision  as  to  the  true  construction  and  meaning 
of  the  drawings  and  specifications  shall  be  final.  It  is  also 
understood  and  agreed  by  and  between  the  parties  hereto 
that  such  additional  drawings  and  explanations  as  may  be 
necessary  to  detail  and  illustrate  the  work  to  be  done  are  to 
furnished  by  said  Architects,  and  they  agree  to  conform 
and  abide  by  the  same  so  far  as  they  may  be  consistent 
with  the  purpose  and  intent  of  the  original  drawings  and  speci- 
fications referred  to  in  Art.  I. 

It  is  further  understood  and  agreed  by  the  parties  hereto 
that  any  and  all  drawings  and  specifications  prepared  for 
the  purposes  of  this  contract  by  the  said  Architects  are  and 
remain  their  property,  and  that  all  charges  for  the  use  of  the 
same,  and  for  the  services  of  said  Architects,  are  to  be  paid 
by  the  said  Owner. 

ART.  III.  No  alterations  shall  be  made  in  the  work 
except  upon  written  order  of  the  Architects;  the  amount  to 
be  paid  by  the  Owner  or  allowed  by  the  Contractor  by  vir- 
tue of  such  alterations  to  be  stated  in  said  order.  Should  the 
Owner  and  Contractor  not  agree  as  to  amount  to  be  paid 
or  allowed,  the  work  shall  go  on  under  the  order  required 
above,  and  in  case  of  failure  to  agree,  the  determination  of 
said  amount  shall  be  referred  to  arbitration,  as  provided  for 
in  Art.  XII  of  this  contract. 

ART.  IV.  The  Contractor  shall  provide  sufficient,  safe 
and  proper  facilities  at  all  times  for  the  inspection  of  the  work 
by  the  Architects  or  their  authorized  representatives;  shall, 
within  twenty-four  hours  after  receiving  written  notice  from 
the  Architects  to  that  effect,  proceed  to  remove  from  the 
grounds  or  buildings  all  materials  condemned  by  them, 
whether  worked  or  unworked,  and  to  take  down  all  portions 
of  the  work  which  the  Architects  shall  by  like  written  notice 
condemn  as  unsound  or  improper,  or  as  in  any  way  failing  to 
conform  to  the  drawings  and  specifications,  and  shall  make 
good  all  work  damaged  or  destroyed  thereby. 

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ART.  V.  Should  the  Contractor  at  any  time  refuse  or 
neglect  to  supply  a  sufficiency  of  properly  skilled  workmen, 
or  of  materials  of  the  proper  quality,  or  fail  in  any  respect  to 
prosecute  the  work  witn  promptness  and  diligence,  or  fail  in 
the  performance  of  any  of  the  agreements  herein  contained, 
such  refusal,  neglect  or  failure  being  certified  by  the  Archi- 
tects, the  Owner  shall  be  at  liberty,  after  three  days  written 
notice  to  the  Contractor  ,  to  provide  any  such  labor  or  ma- 
terials, and  to  deduct  the  cost  thereof  from  any  money  then 
due  or  thereafter  to  become  due  to  the  Contractor  under 
this  contract ;  and  if  the  Architects  shall  certify  that  such  re- 
fusal, neglect  or  failure  is  sufficient  ground  for  such  action, 
the  Owner  shall  also  be  at  liberty  to  terminate  the  employment 
of  the  Contractor  for  the  said  work  and  to  enter  upon  the 
premises  and  take  possession,  for  the  purpose  of  completing 
the  work  included  under  this  contract,  of  all  materials,  tools 
and  appliances  thereon,  and  to  employ  any  other  person  or 
persons  to  finish  the  work,  and  to  provide  the  materials  there- 
tor;  and  in  case  of  such  discontinuance  of  the  employment  of 

the  Contractor  shall  not  be  entitled  to  receive 

any  further  payment  under  this  contract  until  the  said  work 
shall  be  wholly  finished,  at  which  time,  if  the  unpaid  balance 
of  the  amount  to  be  paid  under  this  contract  shall  exceed  the 
expense  incurred  by  the  Owner  in  finishing  the  work,  such 
excess  shall  be  paid  by  the  Owner  to  the  Contractor  ;  but 
if  such  expense  shall  exceed  such  unpaid  balance,  the  Con- 
tractor shall  pay  the  difference  to  the  Owner  .  The  ex- 
pense incurred  by  the  Owner  as  herein  provided,  either  for 
furnishing  materials  or  for  finishing  the  work,  and  any  damage 
incurred  through  such  default,  shall  be  audited  and  certified 
by  the  Architects,  whose  certificate  thereof  shall  be  con- 
clusive upon  the  parties. 

ART.  VI.  The  Contractor  shall  complete  the  several 
portions,  and  the  whole  of  the  work  comprehended  in  this 
Agreement  by  and  at  the  time  or  times  hereinafter  stated  to 
wit: 

ART.  VII.  Should  the  Contractor  be  delayed  in  the 
prosecution  or  completion  of  the  work  by  the  act,  neglect  or 
default  of  the  Owner,  of  the  Architects,  or  of  any  other 
contractor  employed  by  the  Owner  upon  the  work,  or 
by  any  damage  caused  by  fire  or  other  casualty  for  which  the 

Contractor  not  responsible,  or  by  combined 

action  of  workmen  in  no  wise  caused  by  or  resulting  from 
default  or  collusion  on  the  part  of  the  Contractor  ,  then  the 
time  herein  fixed  for  the  completion  of  the  work  shall  be  ex- 
tended for  a  period  equivalent  to  the  time  lost  by  reason  of 
any  or  all  the  causes  aforesaid,  which  extended  period  shall 
be  determined  and  fixed  by  the  Architects ;  but  no  such  allow- 
ance shall  be  made  unless  a  claim  therefor  is  presented  in 

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writing  to  the  Architects  within  forty-eight  hours  of  the  oc- 
currence of  such  delay. 

ART.  VIII.  The  Owner  agree  to  provide  all  labor 
and  materials  essential  to  the  conduct  of  this  work  not  in- 
cluded in  this  contract  in  such  manner  as  not  to  delay  its 
progress,  and  in  the  event  of  failure  so  to  do,  thereby  causing 
loss  to  the  Contractor  ,  agree  that will  reim- 
burse the  Contractor  for  such  loss;  and  the  Contractor 

agree     that  if shall  delay  the  progress  of  the  work 

so  as  to  cause  loss  for  which  the  Owner     shall  become  liable, 

then shall  reimburse  the  Owner     for  such  loss. 

Should  the  Owner  and  Contractor  fail  to  agree  as  to  the 
amount  of  loss  comprehended  in  this  Article,  the  determina- 
tion of  the  amount  shall  be  referred  to  arbitration  as  provided 
in  Art.  XII.  of  this  contract. 

ART.  IX.  It  is  hereby  mutually  agreed  between  the 
parties  hereto  that  the  sum  to  be  paid  by  the  Owner  to  the 

Contractor     for  said  work  and  materials  shall  be 

subject  to  additions  and  deductions  as  hereinbefore  provided, 
and  that  such  sum  shall  be  paid  by  the  Owner  to  the  Con- 
tractor ,  in  current  funds,  and  only  upon  certificates  of  the 
Architects,  as  follows: 

The  final  payment  shall  be  made  within 

days  after  the  completion  of  the  work  included  in  this  con- 
tract, and  all  payments  shall  be  due  when  certificates  for  the 
same  are  issued. 

If  at  any  time  there  shall  be  evidence  of  any  lien  or  claim 
for  which,  if  established,  the  Owner  of  the  said  premises 
might  become  liable,  and  which  is  chargeable  to  the  Contrac- 
tor, the  Owner  shall  have  the  right  to  retain  out  of  any 
payment  then  due  or  thereafter  to  become  due  an  amount 

sufficient  to    completely  indemnify .against  such 

lien  or  claim.  Should  there  prove  to  be  any  such  claim  after 
all  payments  are  made,  the  Contractor  shall  refund  to  the 
Owner  all  moneys  that  the  latter  may  be  compelled  to  pay 
in  discharging  any  lien  on  said  premises  made  obligatory  in 
consequence  of  the  Contractor  default. 

ART.  X.  It  is  further  mutually  agreed  between  the  parties 
hereto  that  no  certificate  given  or  payment  made  under  this 
contract,  except  the  final  certificate  or  final  payment,  shall 
be  conclusive  evidence  of  the  performance  of  this  contract, 
either  wholly  or  in  part,  and  that  no  payment  shall  be  con- 
strued to  be  an  acceptance  of  defective  work  or  improper 
materials. 

ART.  XI.  The  Owner  shall  during  the  progress  of  the 
work  maintain  insurance  on  the  same  against  loss  or  damage 

by  fire, 

the  policies  to  cover  all  work  incorporated  in  the  building,  and 

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all  materials  for  the  same  in  or  about  the  premises,  and  to  be 
made  payable  to  the  parties  hereto,  as  their  interest  may  ap- 
pear. 

ART.  XII.  In  case  the  Owner  and  Contractor  fail  to 
agree  in  relation  to  matters  of  payment,  allowance  or  loss 
referred  to  in  Arts.  III.  or  VIII  of  this  contract,  or  should 
either  of  them  dissent  from  the  decision  of  the  Architects  re- 
ferred to  in  Art.  VII  of  this  contract,  which  dissent  shall  have 
been  filed  in  writing  with  the  Architects  within  ten  days  of  the 
announcement  of  such  decision,  then  the  matter  shall  be  re- 
ferred to  a  Board  of  Arbitration  to  consist  of  one  person 
selected  by  the  Owner  ,  and  one  person  selected  by  the  Con- 
tractor ,  these  two  to  select  a  third.  The  decision  of  any 
two  of  this  Board  shall  be  final  and  binding  on  both  parties 
hereto.  Each  party  hereto  shall  pay  one-half  of  the  expense 
of  such  reference. 

The  said  parties  for  themselves,  their  heirs,  successors, 
executors,  administrators  and  assigns,  do  hereby  agree  to  the 
full  performance  of  the  covenants  herein  contained. 

In  Witness  Whereof,  the  parties  to  these  presents  have 
hereunto  <  set  their  hands  and  seals,  the  day  and  year  first 
above  written. 

In  Presence  of 

Whatever  form  of  contract  is  signed,  it  should  be 
scanned  thoroughly  first  and  if  there  is  anything 
objectionable,  or  which  the  plumber  does  not  under- 
stand, he  should  insist  that  it  be  stricken  out  before 
signing.  When  all  the  conditions  governing  pay- 
ments, progress  of  work,  abandonment,  arbitration 
and  the  like  have  been  incorporated  in  the  specifica- 
tions, a  plain,  simple  memorandum  in  writing,  stating 
that  the  plumber  agrees  for  a  certain  sum  to  furnish 
all  work  and  materials,  according  to  the  plans  and 
specifications,  and  the  owner  agrees  to  pay  him  for 
the  service  the  stipulated  sum,  signed  by  both 
parties,  is  all  that  is  required  and  is  the  best  form 
of  contract  to  use. 

Release  from  Contract. — Once  a  contract  has 
been  formally  entered  into,  either  by  a  specific  offer 

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and  an  unqualified  acceptance,  or  by  the  signing  of  an 
agreement,  drawn  up  in  due  form,  it  becomes  bind- 
ing on  both  parties,  and  neither  can  be  absolved  from 
the  terms  without  a  release  from  the  other  party. 
In  this  respect,  a  verbal  agreement  is  of  no  value,  for 
the  document  releasing  the  party  to  a  contract  must 
be  of  equal  dignity  to  the  contract  itself.  That  is, 
if  the  contract  is  simply  a  written  contract,  a  written 
release  is  all  that  is  necessary;  whereas,  if. the  con- 
tract is  under  seal,  the  release  must  be  a  written  docu- 
ment under  seal.  Further,  there  must  be  a  considera- 
tion for  the  release.  Both  parties  to  a  contract  are 
presumably  mutually  benefitted  by  the  contract, 
and  if  one  seeks  to  be  released  from  his  obligation, 
the  other  party  is  entitled  to  some  compensation 
for  the  release.  In  other  words,  having  entered  into 
a  formal  contract,  another  formal  contract,  for  a  con- 
sideration, is  required  to  release  either  party. 

Conditional  Sales. — A  fact  well  worth  knowing 
by  the  plumber  is  that  in  the  eyes  of  the  law,  plumb- 
ing fixtures,  so  called,  are  not  really  fixtures  in  the 
sense  that  when  they  are  set  in  place  they  become 
annexed  to  and  part  of  the  freehold.  On  the  con- 
trary, under  some  conditions,  they  may  be  treated 
like  furniture  and  furnishings,  and  sold  under  a  con- 
ditional bill  of  sale,  or  chattel  mortgage,  the  same  as 
a  sewing  machine,  piano,  or  other  article  of  furniture. 
This  is  true  in  New  York  state  and  no  doubt  in  other 
states  where  there  are  similar  laws  in  relation  to 
chattel  mortgages,  and  it  will  pay  the  plumber  to 
look  into  the  matter  in  his  neighborhood. 

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In  order  to  take  advantage  of  this  condition,  how- 
ever, the  plumber  must  know  how  to  proceed  to  pro- 
tect himself.  Suppose,  for  instance,  that  some 
builder  about  whose  credit  he  is  uncertain  wishes 
him  to  do  the  plumbing  work  in  a  certain  building. 
Without  running  much  risk,  he  can  take  the  contract, 
provided  the  work  is  divided  into  the  two  main  divi- 
sions, roughing  and  fixtures.  The  roughing  work 
will  be  the  only  risk.  This  must  be  a  separate  and 
distinct  contract  of  the  ordinary  form,  having  no  rela- 
tion to  the  fixtures.  As  the  roughing  work  is  compar- 
atively inexpensive,  the  plumber  does  the  work  and 
collects  his  pay.  Then  for  the  fixtures,  and  before 
they  are  delivered  on  the  operation,  he  must  prepare 
a  contract  under  the  terms  of  which  he  furnishes  all 
fixtures  and  connects  them  up  in  place  for  a  certain 
price,  the  title  to  the  fixture  to  remain  vested  in  him 
until  final  payment  is  made.  This  document 
must  be  recorded  in  the  office  of  the  City  Clerk, 
Registrar  of  Deeds,  or  whatever  office  is  designated 
by  law  for  this  purpose,  and  the  plumber  is  then  per- 
fectly secure,  for  until  final  payment  has  been  made 
on  the  goods,  they  remain  his  property  and  can  be 
removed  should  the  owner  fail  to  live  up  to  the  terms 
of  the  agreement.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind,  how- 
ever, that  as  between  the  plumber  and  a  subsequent 
purchaser  or  loaner,  his  claim  will  not  be  valid  if  he 
fails  to  record  it  according  to  law.  The  following 
form  of  contract  will  be  found  binding  for  this  pur- 
pose: 

"Memorandum  of  agreement,  entered  into  this 
24th  day  of  August,  1910,  between  Henry  Leader, 
party  of  the  first  part,  and  August  Blank,  party  of 

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the  second  part.  The  said  party  of  the  first  part 
agrees  to  and  with  the  said  party  of  the  second  part, 
to  furnish,  set  in  place,  and  connect  with  water  and 
waste  pipes,  all  the  plumbing  fixtures,  so  called,  con- 
sisting of  water  closets,  bath  tubs,  lavatories,  sinks, 
water  heaters  and  tanks,  as  called  for  in  the  specifi- 
tions,  in  the  five-story  flat  building  now  in  the  course 
of  erection  on  the  south  east  corner  of  120th  street 
and  Morningside  Avenue,  New  York  City,  and  be- 
longing to  the  party  of  the  second  part.  And  the 
said  party  of  the  second  part,  in  consideration  of  the 
above  mentioned  work  and  material,  agrees  to  pay 
unto  the  party  of  the  first  part,  his  heirs  or  assigns, 
the  sum  of  Three  thousand  dollars  ($3,000)  lawful 
money  of  the  United  States,  when  the  contract  is 
completed  and  the  work  passed  or  approved  by  the 
Department  of  Plumbing,  and  final  report  made. 
It  is  expressly  understood  and  agreed  between  the 
parties  to  this  contract:  First,  that  the  contract 
relates  solely  to  the  furnishing  and  fitting-up  of  fix- 
tures, the  so-called  roughing  being  the  subject  matter 
of  another  agreement. 

Second:  That  the  fixtures,  so  called,  are  not  fix- 
tures in  the  sense  that  they  become  attached  to  the 
property,  but  are  furniture  or  furnishings. 

Third:  That  all  right,  title  and  interest  in  the 
fixtures  shall  remain  vested  in  the  party  of  the  first 
part  until  final  payment  has  been  made  and  that  in 
default  of  payment,  the  said  party  of  the  first  part 
without  formality  of  law,  may  enter  the  premises 
at  any  reasonable  hour  of  the  day  and  remove  the 
said  fixtures  and  their  connections. 

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Fourth:  That  nothing  but  cash  shall  be  deemed 
payment  within  the  meaning  of  the  contract. 

(Signed)  HENRY  LEADER, 

AUGUST  BLANK. 

It  is  well  in  a  case  of  this  kind  where  the  docu- 
ments must  be  recorded,  to  have  it  attested  by  a 
notary  public  and  subscribed  to  by  at  least  one  wit- 
ness. In  case  the  notary's  seal  and  witness'  signa- 
ture are  not  necessary,  they  will  not  invalidate  the 
contract,  and,  to  make  sure,  when  the  plumber  is  in 
doubt,  he  should  have  it,  both  witnessed  and  attested. 
Having  complied  with  all  these  formalities,  he  should 
then  record  the  agreement  in  the  proper  office  before 
beginning  work  on  the  contract. 

Signatures  to  a  Contract. — The  signatures  to  a 
contract  must  be  subscribed,  that  is,  they  must  be 
placed  at  the  bottom  of  the  contract  and  are  usually 
placed  at  the  lower  right  hand  side.  In  case  a  person 
cannot  write,  his  mark  will  be  sufficient,  provided  it 
is  witnessed  by  a  third  person  and  his  name  is  written 
near  it  in  the  customary  way  and  by  a  duly  authorized 
party.  One  party  to  a  contract  cannot  write,  "by 
mark"  the  name  of  the  other  party  to  the  contract. 

When  an  agent  signs  a  contract,  the  plumber 
should  make  sure  that  he  signs  it  for — and  so  as  to 
bind,  his  principal.  To  do  so,  he  would  have  to  sign : 

"August  Blank" 
"by  Albert  Factor,  Agent." 
If  he  were  to  write  his  signature : 

Albert  Factor,  agent  for  August  Blank" 
the  contract  would  not  be  binding  on  August  Blank, 

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for  the  agent  has  signed  the  agreement  with  his  own 
name,  the  clause  "Agent  for  August  Blank"  merely 
serving  in  the  eyes  of  the  law  as  a  means  of  identify- 
ing or  explaining  what  Albert  Factor  is  party  to  the 
contract. 

Tenders  for  Work. — The  privilege  is  commonly 
reserved  in  all  public  work  of  rejecting  any  or  all 
bids,  and  this  has  led  to  the  common  belief  that  in 
all  work  the  contract  must  be  awarded  to  the  lowest 
bidder.  Except  in  a  few  cities  or  states  where  it  is 
made  compulsory  to  award  all  public  work  to  the 
lowest  responsible  bidder,  the  mere  estimating  on 
work  and  tendering  a  bid  imposes  no  obligation 
whatever  on  the  owner,  who  can  reject  any  or  all  bids, 
or  accept  the  lowest,  highest  or  any  other  tender, 
without  in  any  way  being  liable.  The  bid  tendered 
by  a  plumber  in  competition  with  others,  is  simply 
a  specific  offer  and  unless  there  is  an  unconditional 
acceptance,  there  is  no  contract  and  no  cause  of  ac- 
tion. Further,  the  owner  is  under  no  obligation  to 
specifically  reject  the  offers  he  does  not  accept.  His 
neglect  to  accept  them  operates  as  a  rejection. 

Extra  Work. — An  article  is  generally  incorporated 
in  every  specification,  or  if  omitted  there,  is  included 
in  the  contract,  stipulating  that  no  extra  work  shall 
be  paid  for  unless  ordered  in  writing.  The  courts 
of  the  various  states,  view  this  condition  in  different 
lights,  some  holding  that  it  is  useless  for  parties  to 
try  to  tie  up  by  contract  their  freedom  to  deal  with 
each  other;  while  in  other  states,  the  courts  refuse  to 
admit  parol  evidence  to  establish  a  claim  for  extra 
work,  holding  them  to  the  terms  of  the  contract  and 

196 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

requiring  that  written  orders  be  produced  on  which 
to  base  the  claims  for  compensation  for  the  extra 
work  performed.  At  the  best,  such  a  clause  if  not 
lived  up  to  opens  the  door  for  expensive  litigation, 
and  as  the  proverbial  ounce  of  prevention  is  worth  a 
pound  of  cure,  it  is  a  wise  policy  to  insist  on  written 
orders  for  all  extra  work,  when  ever  a  clause  requiring 
such  procedure  is  incorporated  either  in  the  specifi- 
cations or  contract.  A  good  plan  to  pursue,  one  which 
will  save  after-disputes,  as  to  the  cost  of  extra  work, 
and  perhaps  prevent  expensive  litigation,  is  to  have 
a  schedule  of  prices  affixed  to  every  specification  or 
contract,  stipulating  just  what  each  item  entering 
into  the  makeup  of  a  plumbing  installation  will  cost, 
in  case  of  extra  work.  This  may  take  the  form  of  a 
table  or  itemized  list  of  all  sizes  of  pipes,  lead,  wrought 
and  cast  iron,  fittings  of  various  sizes,  oakum,  lead, 
fixtures  such  as  are  called  for  in  the  original  specifi- 
cation, labor,  excavating  per  foot,  etc.  The  cost 
of  these  various  items  has  been  already  worked  out 
and,  after  allowing  the  profit  desired,  the  net  costs 
to  the  owner  can  be  stipulated  so  that  he  will  know 
before  hand  what  the  extra  work  and  materials  will 
cost. 

Acceptance  of  Work.— The  making  of  final  pay- 
ment for  a  contract,  the  written  acceptance  by  the 
owner,  or  the  certificate  of  the  architect,  does  not 
always  operate  as  a  full  acceptance  of  the  work  and 
discharge  of  the  contractor  from  the  terms  of  his  con- 
tract. If,  after  final  payment  is  made,  omissions,  or 
the  substitution  of  inferior  goods  are  discovered,  the 
contractor  can  be  held  to  the  terms  of  his  contract,  as 

197 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

though  no  certificate  had  been  issued  and  no  payments 
made.  An  erroneous  opinion  seems  to  prevail  among 
contractors  that  the  moving  into  a  building  and  using 
the  fixtures  operates  as  an  implied  acceptance  of  the 
work.  Such  is  not  the  case,  however,  and  whether 
the  owner  has  moved  in  or  not,  if  the  terms  of  the 
contract  have  not  been  lived  up  to,  specific  perform- 
ance can  be  enforced  by  the  courts.  Nothing  acts 
as  an  acceptance  of  the  work,  except  the  Statute  of 
Limitations,  when  the  terms  of  the  contract  have  not 
been  lived  up  to,  and  whenever  the  deviation  from 
the  terms  of  the  contract  are  discovered,  the  com- 
pletion of  the  contract,  according  to  the  original 
agreement,  can  be  enforced. 

Time  Limit  on  Contracts. — When  no  set  time 
has  been  stipulated  for  the  completion  of  a  contract, 
the  plumber  cannot  exercise  his  own  sweet  will  and 
complete  the  work  whenever  he  pleases.  In  the 
absence  of  an  express  understanding,  as  to  the  time 
when  a  contract  must  be  completed,  the  law  assumes 
that  the  intention  of  both  parties  was  to  have  the 
work  done  within  a  reasonable  time;  and  what  that 
reasonable  time  should  be  is  a  question  for  the  jury 
to  decide.  Sometimes  a  time  limit  is  set  in  the  con- 
tract and  a  clause  calls  for  the  payment  of  a  certain 
sum  of  money  per  day  to  the  owner  for  each  day  over 
and  above  that  set  in  the  time  limit.  But  even  with- 
out this  clause,  the  owner  can  recover  for  loss,  dam- 
ages or  injury  due  to  delay  by  the  contractor.  The 
law  as  laid  down  by  the  highest  court  of  Michigan, 
and  which  no  doubt  will  be  followed  by  other  states, 
is  expressed  in  the  following  rule : 


Plumbing    Estimates     and     Contracts 

"Even  though  there  should  be  no  stipulation  in 
the  contract  to  the  effect  that  the  contractor  was  to 
forfeit  a  certain  sum  as  liquidated  damages,  for  each 
and  every  day  the  work  should  remain  unfinished, 
beyond  the  specified  time,  the  owner  would  be  able 
to  recover,  as  damages,  any  loss  he  could  bring  evi- 
dence to  prove  actually  existed  through  the  default 
of  the  contractor." 

On  the  other  hand,  should  delay  in  the  comple- 
tion of  a  contract  be  caused  by  the  owner,  or  those 
acting  for  him,  unless  the  right  to  postpone  or  delay 
the  work  were  expressly  stipulated  in  the  contract, 
the  plumber  could  recover  damages  for  any  loss  he 
sustained  or  additional  expense  he  was  put  to  by  the 
delay.  In  case  no  loss  or  damage  resulted,  he  would 
at  least  be  entitled  to  an  extension  of  time,  equal  to 
that  delay  caused  by  the  owner.  In  order  to  avail 
himself  of  the  extension  of  time,  and  possible  damages, 
for  the  delay  of  work,  the  plumber  should  notify  the 
owner  in  writing,  as  soon  as  he  found  his  progress 
stopped,  and  should  protest  against  the  delay  as  it 
prevents  him  from  fulfilling  his  contract  according 
to  the  terms  and  was  entailing  additional  expense 
(which  he  might  explain)  on  account  of  the  delay. 

Penalties  and  Premiums. — In  a  contract,  the 
stipulation  is  generally  made  that  a  certain  sum  per 
day  shall  be  paid  the  owner  as  liquidated  damages, 
for  every  day  the  contract  remained  unfinished  beyond 
the  stipulated  time.  Whether  the  condition  can  be 
enforced  by  the  courts,  depends  always  on  whether 
the  payment  is  to  be  made  as  a  penalty,  or  as  liquidat- 
ed damages.  If  the  court  finds  that  the  payment 

199 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

is  in  the  nature  of  a  penalty  the  condition  cannot  be 
enforced,  for  the  penalizing  or  punishing  of  a  person 
by  penalty,  is  the  prerogative  of  the  state  through  the 
courts.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  the  condition  is  con- 
strued to  be  in  the  nature  of  liquidated  damages, 
that  is,  the  mutual  understanding  of  the  contracting 
parties,  as  to  the  exact  loss  that  will  result  from  a 
failure  to  complete  the  work  at  the  stipulated  time, 
the  condition  will  hold  good  and  be  enforced  by  the 
courts.  Even  though  the  courts  hold  that  the  con- 
dition imposes  a  penalty,  it  does  not  relieve  the  con- 
tractor for  he  is  still  liable  for  damages  for  the  delay 
caused.  The  only  difference  is,  that  in  case  the  con- 
dition is  held  to  be  a  penalty,  it  throws  the  question 
open  for  the  jury  to  determine  just  what  the  loss  or 
damage  was  that  was  sustained  by  the  owner.  Of 
course,  if  the  amount  of  liquidated  damages  as  stipu- 
lated in  the  contract  were  low  and  reasonable,  the 
contractor  might  fare  worse  by  having  it  construed 
as  a  penalty,  than  if  he  allowed  it  to  stand  as  liquidated 
damages,  for  a  jury  might  find  that  the  real  loss  to 
the  owner  exceeded  the  amount  of  the  liquidated 
damages  stipulated. 

In  order  to  avoid  uncertainty  as  to  the  intention 
of  the  parties,  and  make  sure  that  the  amount  stipu- 
lated shall  be  construed  as  liquidated  damages,  not 
as  a  penalty,  the  contract  is  often  drawn  with  a  stipu- 
lation providing  for  premiums  and  liquidated  damages. 
That  is,  the  contract  stipulates  that  for  every  day  the 
work  on  the  contract  is  completed  before  a  certain 
time,  the  contractor  shall  receive  from  the  owner, 
as  premium,  a  certain  sum  per  day;  and,  conversely, 
for  every  day  exceeding  that  time  that  the  work  re- 

200 


Plumbing    Estimates    and    Contracts 

mains  unfinished,  he  shall  pay  to  the  owner,  an  equal 
sum  as  liquidated  damages.  Such  an  agreement  is 
generally  enforceable  as  drawn. 

LAW  OF  INSURANCE 

There  are  two  conditions  regarding  insurance, 
which  the  plumber  must  consider  when  he  engages 
in  business.  The  first  is,  to  cover  his  stock,  furni- 
ture and  fixtures  with  a  policy  of  insurance.  This 
is  necessary  in  many  cases  where  the  contractor  seeks 
credit,  for  many  supply  houses  will  not  extend  a  line 
of  credit  to  plumbers  who  do  not  keep  the  goods 
covered  by  insurance.  Outside  of  this  requirement 
of  supply  houses,  the  plumber  should  cover  his  goods 
for  his  own  satisfaction  and  safety,  and  in  order  that 
he  will  not  be  called  upon  to  pay  for  insurance  which 
does  not  insure,  it  will  pay  him  to  submit  his  policy 
to  a  lawyer  for  an  opinion  as  to  its  many  printed 
terms.  As  was  previously  pointed  out  in  this  work, 
signing  a  printed  form  of  contract  is  a  hazardous  un- 
dertaking, and  an  insurance  policy  is  no  exception  to 
the  rule.  Many  conditions  are  printed  in  the  form 
of  policy  used,  which  will  prevent  the  plumber  re- 
covering in  case  of  fire,  unless  they  are  stricken  out 
before  signing  the  contract.  For  instance,  owing  to 
a  printed  stipulation,  most  policies  are  void  if  gasoline 
is  used  or  stored  on  the  premises.  There  are  very 
few  plumbing  shops  where  gasoline  torches  or  gasoline 
furnaces  are  not  used,  and  these  would  invalidate  the 
policy  of  insurance  so  that  in  case  of  fire  nothing 
could  be  recovered.  Further,  many  policies  contain 
a  stipulation  rendering  them  void  in  case  the  interest 

201 


Plumbing     Estimates     and     Contracts 

of  the  plumber  is  not  whole  and  entire.  Under  the 
terms  of  such  a  policy,  if  the  plumber  had  goods  in 
his  shop  on  consignment,  or  materials  of  any  kind 
in  which  others  had  an  interest,  the  policy  would  be 
void. 

The  second  consideration  is  for  the  plumber  to 
see  that  work  on  new  buildings,  when  of  sufficient 
size  to  warrant  it,  is  covered  by  insurance.  If  a  loss 
is  sustained  by  fire,  before  final  acceptance  of  the 
work  and  payment,  the  loss  is  the  plumber's,  and  he 
must  again  install  the  work,  according  to  the  terms 
of  the  contract,  even  though  the  loss  entailed  would 
make  him  a  bankrupt.  Insurance,  then,  both  for 
the  shop  and  the  work  should  be  looked  after  by  the 
plumber,  and  he  should  make  sure  that  no  clause  in 
the  policy  of  insurance  will  deprive  him  of  his  indem- 
nity in  case  of  fire. 

LEASES 

The  principal  condition  for  the  plumber  to  guard 
against  when  signing  a  lease,  is  a  condition  calling 
upon  him  to  keep  the  premises  in  repair  and  at  the 
expiration  of  the  lease  to  surrender  them  in  as  good 
order  and  condition  as  when  received,  usual  wear  and 
tear  excepted.  The  condition  is  usually  worded 
something  like  the  following: 

"And  during  the  said  term  will  keep  the  premises 
in  good  condition,  order  and  repair,  and  at  the  term- 
ination of  said  term  will  deliver  up  the  said  premises 
in  as  good  condition,  order  and  repair  as  the  same  now 
are,  reasonable  wear  and  tear  excepted." 

202 


Plumbing    Estimates    and     Contracts 

The  trouble  with  a  lease  containing  an  innocent 
clause  like  the  foregoing,  lies  in  the  fact  that  if  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  earthquake,  tornado,  flood  or  other 
agency,  the  lessee  cannot  deliver  them  up  in  as  good 
condition  and  repair  as  they  are  when  he  leases  them, 
without  rebuilding.  And  that  is  just  what  the  courts 
insist  upon  him  doing.  A  contract  to  repair,  ac- 
cording to  law,  is  a  contract  to  rebuild.  And  in  case 
of  damages  from  any  cause,  outside  the  acts  of  God 
or  the  public  enemy,  the  lessee  will  have  to  repair  the 
premises  and  put  them  in  as  good  condition  as  when 
he  took  possession,  even  though  in  order  to  do  so, 
he  had  to  rebuild  the  premises.  It  is  possible  that 
in  most  courts,  damages  from  earthquakes,  might 
excuse  him,  and  possibly,  but  only  possibly,  a  wind- 
storm or  tornado. 

All  such  responsibility,  however,  can  be  avoided 
by  insisting  that  the  section  be  made  to  read : 

"And  during  the  said  term  will  keep  said  premises 
in  good  condition,  order  and  repair,  and  at  the  term- 
ination of  said  term  will  deliver  up  the  said  premises 
in  as  good  condition,  order  and  repair,  as  the  same  now 
are,  reasonable  wear  and  tear  and  damages  from  acci- 
dental fire,  or  other  causes  beyond  the  control  of  the 
lessee,  excepted." 


203 


INDEX 


Acceptance  of  Work 197 

Accuracy  of  Estimates 6 

Advertising 132 

Advertising  Copy,  Preparation 

of 133 

Advertising,  Display  in 135 

Advertising,  Incidental 138 

Advertising  Mediums 137 

Advertising  Returns 138 

Advertising  Space,  Size  of 137 

Allowance  for  Board  and  Car- 
fare      76 

Allowance    for    Guaranteeing 

Work 78 

Allowance   for  Operating  Ex- 
penses       79 

Allowance    for    Salvation 

Clauses 73 

Allowing  for  Incidentals  and 

Sundries 75 

Allowing  Profit 82 

Auditing  Bills 163 


B 


Bills,  Auditing 163 

Bills,  Discounting 164 

Black  Malleable  Fittings,  List 

Price  on 27 

Blank,  Form  of  Estimate 90 

Blanks,  Use  of  Estimate 89 

Board  and  Carfare,  Allowance 

for 76 

Book,  Cost 114 

Books,  Keeping 163 

Boxing  and  Crating 104 

Boxing,  Crating  and  Cartage. .  102 
Brass  and  Copper  Pipe,  Esti- 
mating Cost  of 34 

Brass  and  Copper  Tubes,  Extra 
Heavy  Seamless  Drawn. ...     35 


Brass  and  Copper  Tubes,  Seam- 
less Drawn,  Iron  Pipe  Sizes    34 

Brass  Plumbing  Tubes 36 

Business  Capital 120 

Business  Law 175 

Business  of  Contracting 117 

Business,  Place  of 127 

Business,  Soliciting 149 

Business,  Starting  in 117 

Business,  Suggestion  in 143 


Cabinet,  Catalogue 166 

Calculating  the  Cost 97 

Capital,  Business 120 

Cartage,  Boxing  and  Crating. .  102 
Carfare  and  Board,  Allowance 

for 76 

Carrying  Stock 126 

Cast-iron  Soil  Pipe,  Estimating 

Cost  of 19 

Cast-iron  Soil  Pipe,  Table    of 

Sizes  and  Weights  of 24 

Catalogue  Cabinet 166 

Catalogues  and  Prices 104 

Catch  Clauses,  Estimating 71 

Caution  When  Receiving  Goods  105 
Cement  and  Sand  Required  for 
Earthenware  Pipe,   Table 

of 18 

Checking  Plumbing  Estimates  110 
Checking  the  Estimate  for 

Labor 69 

Claims  for  Defective  Materials  106 

Claims  for  Shortage 106 

Classification  of  Malleable-iron 

Fittings,  Table  of 26 

Clauses,  Allowance  for  Salva- 
tion      73 

Clauses,  Estimating  Catch 71 

Complete  Plans  and  Specifica- 
tions, Estimating  from 1 


Computing-  the  Cost  of  Wages..  110 

Conditional  Sales 192 

Contract,  Explanation  of  a 175 

Contract,  Form  of 157 

Contract,  Form  of 184 

Contract,  Parties  to  a 177 

Contract,  Release  from 191 

Contract,  Signatures  to  a 195 

Contract,  Signing  the 156 

Contract,  Uniform 187 

Contracts 117 

Contracts    and   Estimates, 

Plumbing 1 

Contracts,   Different  Plans  of 

Letting 158 

Contracts,  The  Execution  of . . .  169 

Contracts,  The  Law  of 175 

Contracts,  Time  Limit  on 198 

Contracting,  Business  of 117 

Copper  and  Brass  Pipe,  Esti- 
mating Cost  of 34 

Copper  and  Brass  Tubes,  Extra 

Heavy  Seamless  Drawn ...     35 
Copper  and  Brass  Tubes,  Seam- 
less Drawn,  Iron  Pipe  Sizes    34 
Copy,  Preparation    of    Adver- 
tising   133 

Cost  Book 114 

Cost,  Calculating  the 97 

Cost  Marking  Goods 146 

Cost  of  Cast-iron  Soil  Pipe,  Es- 
timating       19 

Cost  of  Copper  and  Brass  Pipe, 

Estimating ;...     34 

Cost  of  Earthernware  Sewer, 

Estimating 16 

Cost   of    Handling   Water    in 

Trenches,  Table  of 15 

Cost  of  Wages,  Computing  the  110 
Cost   of  Wrought  Pipe,  Esti- 
mating      24 

Countermanding  Orders 106 

Crating  and  Boxing 104 

Crating,  Boxing  and  Cartage. .  102 

Credit,  Opening  a  line  of 122 

Credit  to  Others,  Extending. . .  124 


Day  Work 161 

Defective     Materials,    Claims 

for 106 

Deliveries  and  Orders 104 

Different  Plans  of  Letting  Con- 
tracts   158 


Digging  and  Refilling  Trenches    13 
Dimensions    and    Weights  of 
Double  Extra     Strong 

Wrought  Pipe 33 

Dimensions  and  Weights  of 
Double  Strength  Sewer 

Pipe,  Table  of 17 

Dimensions  and  Weights  of 
Extra  Strong  Wrought 

Pipe 31 

Dimensions  and  Weights  of 
Standard  Sewer  Pipe,  Table 

of 17 

Dimensions  and  Weights  of 
Standard  Wrought  Pipe ...  30 

Discounting  Bills 164 

Discount  Sheet 99 

Discount,  Trade 98 

Display  in  Advertising 135 

Display,  Store  and  Window. ...  129 
Double  Extra  Strong  Wrought 
Pipe,   Dimensions    and 

Weights  of 33 

Double  Strength  Sewer  Pipe, 
Table  of  Weights  and  Di- 
mensions of 17 

Drawings,  Scaling 9 

Drayage  and  Freight 107 


E 


Earthenware   Pipe,    Table    of 
Cement  and  Sand  Required 

for 18 

Earthenware  Sewer,  Estimat- 
ing Cost  of 16 

Economizing  Pipe 55 

Estimate  Blank,  Form  of 90 

Estimate  Blanks,  Use  of 89 

Estimate  for  Labor,  Checking 

the 69 

Estimate,  Making  Up  the 89 

Estimate,  Scope  of  an 1 

Estimate,  Submitting,  an 151 

Estimates,  Accuracy  of 6 

Estimates    and    Contracts, 

Plumbing 1 

Estimates,  Checking  Plumbing  110 

Estimates,  Plumbing 1 

Estimating  Catch  Clauses 71 

Estimating  Cost   of  Cast-iron 

Soil  Pipe 19 

Estimating  Cost  of  Copper  and 

Brass  Pipe 34 

Estimating  Cost    of  Earthen- 
ware Sewer 16 


Estimating    Cost   of  Wrought 

Pipe 24 

Estimating    from  Complete 

Plans  and  Specifications. . .       1 
Estimating  from  Incomplete 

Plans 85 

Estimating  Labor 64 

Estimating  Lead  Roughing 36 

Estimating,  Order  of 4 

Estimating,  Originality  in 45 

Estimating  Sheet  Lead  Work . .     43 
Execution  of  Contracts,  The. . .  169 
Expenses,  Allowance  for  Oper- 
ating      79 

Explanation  of  a  Contract 175 

Extending  Credit  to  Others...  124 
Extra  Heavy  Seamless  Drawn, 

Brass  and  Copper  Tubes. . .     35 
Extra   Strong  Wrought  Pipe, 

Dimensions  and  Weights  of    31 
Extra  Work...  196 


Goods,  Returned 106 

Goods,  Terms  of  Sale  of 104 

Guaranteeing  Work,  Allowance 
for...  .     78 


H 

Handling  Water  in  Trenches, 

Table  of  Cost  of 15 

Helpers,  Selection  of 172 


Incidental  Advertising 138 

Incidentals  and  Sundries,  Al- 
lowing for 75 

Incomplete  Plans,   Estimating 

from 85 

Insurance 105 

Insurance,  Law  of 201 


Fittings,  List  Price  on  Black 

Malleable 27 

Fittings,  List  Price  on  Galvan- 
ized Malleable 29 

Fittings,  Table    of   Classifica- 
tion of  Malleable  Iron 26 

Fittings,  Use  of  Special 47 

Fittings,  Use  of  Stock 45 

Fixtures  of  Stacks,  Rearrang- 
ing the 61 

Foremen 173 

Form  of  Contract 157 

Form  of  Contract ' 184 

Form  of  Estimate  Blank 90 

Form  of  Tender 153 

Frauds,  Statute  of 178 

Freight  and  Drayage 107 


Galvanized  Malleable  Fittings, 
List  Price  on 29 

Getting  Jobbers'  Prices  on 
Lists  of  Goods 115 

Goods,  Caution  When  Receiv- 
ing   105 

Goods,  Cost  Marking 146 

Goods,  Getting  Jobbers'  Prices 
on  Lists  of 115 

Goods,  List  Price  on 97 


Jobbers'    Prices    on    Lists    of 
Goods,  Getting 115 


Keeping  Books  . . 


Labor,  Checking  the  Estimate 

for 69 

Labor,  Estimating 64 

Law,  Business 175 

Law  of  Contracts,  The 175 

Law  of  Insurance 201 

Lead  Pipes,  Sizes  and  Weights 

of 41 

Lead  Roughing,  Estimating ...  36 
Lead,  Weights  and  Maximum 

Sizes  of  Sheet 44 

Lead  Work,  Estimating  Sheet..  43 

Leases 202 

Letting  Contracts,  Different 

Plans  of 158 

Limit  on  Contracts,  Time 198 

Line  of  Credit,  Opening  a 122 

List  frice  on  Black  Malleable 

Fittings 27 


List  Price  on  Galvanized  Malle- 
able Fittings 29 

List  Price  on  Goods 97 

Lists  of  Goods,  Getting  Job- 
bers' Prices  on 115 

Locating  the  Vertical  Stacks . .     57 


M 

Making  Up  the  Estimate 89 

Malleable  Fittings,  List  Price 

on  Black 27 

Malleable  Fittings,  List  Price 

on  Galvanized 29 

Malleable-iron  Fittings,  Table 

of  Classification  of 26 

Marking  Goods,  Cost 146 

Materials,  Claims  for  Defective  106 
Materials,  Supplying  the  Work- 
men with 174 

Maximum  Sizes  and  Weights 

of  Sheet  Lead 44 

Mediums,  Advertising 137 

Men,  Training  of 171 

Methods,  Office 163 


o 


Office  Methods 163 

Opening  a  Line  of  Credit 122 

Operating  Expenses,  Allow- 
ance for 79 

Order  of  Estimating 4 

Orders  and  Deliveries 104 

Orders,  Countermanding 106 

Originality  in  Estimating 45 

Others,  Extending  Credit  to. . .  124 


Pipe,  Estimating  Cost  of  Brass 
and  Copper 34 

Pipe,  Estimating  Cost  of  Cast- 
iron  Soil 19 

Pipe,  Estimating  Cost  of 
Wrought 24 

Pipe,  Table  of  Cement  and  Sand 
Required  for  Earthenware  18 

Pipe,  Table  of  Sizes  and 
Weights  of  Cast-iron  Soil. .  24 

Pipe,  Table  of  Weights  and  Di- 
mensions  of  Double 
Strength,  Sewer 17 

Pipe,  Table  of  Weights  and  Di- 
mensions of  Standard 
Sewer 17 

Pipes,  Sizes  and  Weights  of 
Lead 41 

Place  of  Business 127 

Plans  and  Specifications,  Esti- 
mating from  Complete 1 

Plans,  Estimating  from  Incom- 
complete 85 

Plans  of  Letting  Contracts, 
Different 158 

Plumbing  Estimates 1 

Plumbing  Estimates,  Checking  110 

Plumbing  Tubes,  Brass 36 

Premiums  and  Penalties 199 

Preparation  of  Advertising 
Copy 133 

Price  on  Black  Malleable  Fit- 
tings, List 27 

Price  on  Galvanized  Malle- 
able Fittings,  List 29 

Price  on  Goods,  List 97 

Prices  and  Catalogues 104 

Prices,  on  Lists  of  Goods,  Get- 
ting Jobbers' '115 

Profit,  Allowing 82 


Quantities,  Taking  Off 1 


Packing  and  Routes 104 

Parties  to  a  Contract 177 

Penalties  and  Premiums 199 

Permits 11 

Pipe,  Dimensions  and  Weights 

of    Double  Extra  Strong 

Wrought 33 

Pipe,  Dimensions  and  Weights 

of  Extra  Strong  Wrought..  31 
Pipe,  Dimensions  and  Weights 

of  Standard  Wrought 30 

Pipe,  Economizing 55 


Reading  of  Specifications 5 

Rearranging   the  Fixtures    or 

Stacks 61 

Receiving  Goods,  Caution  when  105 
Refilling  and  Digging  Trenches    13 

Release  from  Contract 191 

Responsibility  Regarding  Ship- 
ments   104 

Returned  Goods.. . .  . .  106 


Returns,  Advertising 138 

Roughing,  Estimating  Lead ...     36 
Routes  and  Packing 104 


Sale  of  Goods,  Terms  of 104 

Sales,  Conditional 192 

Salesmanship 140 

Salvation    Clauses,   Allowance 

for 73 

Sand  and  Cement  Required  for 
Earthenware  Pipe,  Table 

of 18 

Scaling  Drawings 9 

Scope  of  an  Estimate 1 

Seamless  Drawn  Brass  and 
Copper  Tubes,  Extra 

Heavy 35 

Seamless  Drawn  Brass  and 
Copper  Tubes,  Iron  Pipe 

Sizes 34 

Selection  of  Helpers 172 

Sewer,  Estimating   Cost  of 

Earthenware 16 

Sewer  Pipe,  Table  of  Weights 
and  Dimensions  of  Double 

Strength 17 

Sewer  Pipe,  Table  of  Weights 
and  Dimensions  of  Stand- 
ard    17 

Sheet,  Discount 99 

Sheet  Lead,  Weights  and  Maxi- 
mum, Sizes  of 44 

Sheet  Lead  Work,  Estimating. .    43 
Shipments,  Responsibility  Re- 
garding   104 

Shortage,  Claims  for 106 

Signatures  to  a  Contract 195 

Signing  the  Contract 156 

Size  of  Advertising  Space 137 

Sizes  and  Weights  of  Cast-iron 

Soil  Pipe,  Table  of 24 

Sizes    and    Weights    of     Lead 

Pipes 41 

Sizes   and    Weights    of   Sheet 

Lead,  Maximum 44 

Soil  Pipe,  Estimating  Cost  of 

Cast-iron 19 

Soil  Pipe,  Table  of  Sizes  and 

Weights  of  Cast-iron 24 

Soliciting  Business 149 

Space,  Size  of  Advertising 137 

Special  Fittings,  Use  of 47 

Specifications  and  Plans,  Esti- 
mating from  Complete 1 

Specifications,  Reading  of 5 


Stacks,  Locating  the  Vertical. .     57 
Stacks  or  Fixtures,  Rearrang- 
ing the 61 

Standard  Sewer  Pipe,  Table  of 

Weights  and  Dimensions  of    17 
Standard    Wrought    Pipe,   Di- 
mensions and  Weights  of. .     30 

Starting  in  Business 117 

Statute  of  Frauds 178 

Stock,  Carrying 126 

Stock  Fittings,  Use  of 45 

Store  and  Window  Display 129 

Submitting  an  Estimate 151 

Suggestion  in  Business 143 

Sundries  and  Incidentals,  Al- 
lowing for 75 

Superintending  the  Work 169 

Supplying  the  Workmen  with 
Materials...  ..  174 


Table  of  Classification  of  Malle- 
able-iron Fittings 26 

Table  of  Cement  and  Sand  Re- 
quired   for    Earthenware 

Pipe 18 

Table    of   Cost   of    Handling 

Water  in  Trenches 15 

Table    of   Dimensions  and 
Weights  of  Extra    Strong 

Wrought  Pipe 31 

Table  of   Dimensions    and 
Weights    of    Standard 

Wrought  Pipe 30 

Table  of  Sizes  and  Weights  of 

Cast-iron  Soil  Pipe 24 

Table  of  Weights  and  Dimen- 
sions of  Double   Strength 

Sewer  Pipe 17 

Table  of  Weights  and  Dimen- 
sions   of   Standard    Sewer 

Pipe 17 

Taking  Off  Quantities 1 

Telephones 168 

Tender,  Form  of 153 

Tenders  for  Work 196 

Terms  of  Sale  of  Goods 104 

Time  Limit  on  Contracts 198 

Tools,  Working  with 170 

Trade  Discount 98 

Training  of  Men 171 

Trenches,  Digging  and  Refill- 
ing      13 

Trenches,    Table    of    Cost  of 

Handling  Water  in 15 

Tubes,  Brass  Plumbing 36 


Tubes,  Extra  Heavy,  Seamless 
Drawn,  Brass  and  Copper..  35 

Tubes,  Seamless  Drawn,  Iron 
Pipe  Sizes,  Copper  and 
Brass 34 


u 


Uniform  Contract 187 

Use  of  Estimate  Blanks 89 

Use  of  Special  Fittings 47 

Use  of  Stock  Fittings 45 


w 


Wages,  Computing  the  Cost  of  110 

Wages,  Workmen's 173 

Water  in  Trenches,  Table  of 
Cost  of  Handling 15 

Weights  and  Dimensions  of 
Double  Extra  Strong 
Wrought  Pipe 33 

Weights  and  Dimensions  of 
Double  Strength  Sewer 
Pipe,  Table  of 17 

Weights  and  Dimensions  of 
Extra  Strong  Wrought 
Pipe 31 

Weights  and  Dimensions  of 
Standard  Sewer  Pipe,  Table 
of 17 


Weights   and  Dimensions    of 

Standard  Wrought  Pipe. . .     30 
Weights   and  Maximum  Sizes 

of  Sheet  Lead 44 

Weights  and  Sizes  of  Cast-iron 

Soil  Pipe,  Table  of 24 

Weights   and  Sizes  of  Lead 

Pipes 41 

Window  and  Store  Display 129 

Work,  Acceptance  of 197 

Work,  Allowance  for  Guaran- 
teeing   78 

Work,  Day 161 

Work,  Estimating  Sheet  Lead    43 

Work,  Extra 196 

Work,  Superintending  the 169 

Work,  Tenders  for 196 

Working  with  Tools 170 

Workmen  with  Materials,  Sup- 
plying the 174 

Workmen's  Wages 173 

Wrought  Pipe,  Dimensions  and 
Weights  of  Double  Extra 
Strong 33 

Wrought  Pipe,  Dimensions  and 
Weights  of  Extra  Strong . .  31 

Wrought  Pipe,  Estimating 
Cost  of. 24 

Wrought  Pipe,  Dimensions  and 
Weights  of  Standard 30 


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